An American MONKEY in London

Finally after a year of living in the UAE with my friends (Sassafrass and The Man with Thick, Black Glasses) I have been able to stow away with them as they wander the globe to the fantastic city of London.

Our first glimpses of the United Kingdom go whizzing by as we ride the train from Gatwick Airport.

I take a nap on Sassafrass to recover from the red-eye flight we took to get here.

We spent a lot of time riding the tube to get around. I'm glad I had help to "mind the gap" because it was quite a big one for a little monkey.

First things first: Go to a pub, drink a pint, eat some fish & chips.

Welcome to London!

"Allo, can I speak to Dr. Who?....Oh, he's not in. Well, can I get a ride to the Ministry of Magic then?"

One of the best things about travelling is meeting new people and making new friends. I met this charming bloke on the tour through Madame Tussaud's.

This was a dream come true for me. I can't believe I got to meet the star of my favorite movie.

Protecting the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London is serious business.

All I wanted to do was feel his fuzzy hat, but his machine gun made me think that was a bad idea.

We took a double-decker open-top bus tour around the city, saw a lot of interesting buildings and enjoyed the commentary of the guide. But most of it just went in one ear and out the other!

Here was an interesting find along the bus tour. What do you suppose they serve in a place like this? I would stay away from the chocolate desserts if I were you.

We decided to go to the original Hard Rock Cafe for lunch instead.

They had plenty of awesome rock memorabilia, but nothing from The Monkees. Can you believe that?

I still love the Hard Rock! Long live rock 'n roll!

We got to Buckingham Palace too late to take the tour, so we had to settle for peering through the front gates. More of the guards with the fuzzy hats were taunting me from the other side. We didn't let this setback slow us down though and continued our sightseeing with...

The Queen Victoria Memorial

Westminster Abbey

The Saint George and the dragon column and the Westminster School (to the left)

I needed a rest after all that sightseeing. Big Ben ain't all that big!

We continued on to a river cruise of the Thames.

Okay, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben (which is actually the name of the bell inside) are pretty impressive and should be seen in person to truly capture their magnificence.

Other sights along the river included the HMS Belfast, Cleopatra's needle (an ancient obelisk imported from Egypt), Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, and Tate Modern.

The perfect way to end a long day of sightseeing: a pint of Guinness and a traditional English steak pie in a pub topped off with a ride on the London Eye.

So, this is what it would be like if monkeys could fly?

The next day, we took a tour out to visit Stonehenge. A visit to England would not be complete without seeing this amazing site.

Can you imagine what the monkeys who built this were like? What ancient monkey purpose did it serve?

The long escalator to the underground trains which end our trip to London. It was amazing, enlightening, tiring and way too quick. I hope we have the chance to come back again some day to see and experience everything we missed this time. Cheers!

New Adventures in New Places

Well it's the start of a new school year and we find ourselves no longer in Abu Dhabi, but in Dubai. I have been reassigned to two schools in an rural community in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and so my company found the best and closest accomodations in Dubai.

So far we have been wandering the neighborhood and other areas around us to find our bearings. There is so much more to do in Dubai and we are looking forward to the new adventure.

We went with some friends to a restaurant called YO! Sushi. It's one of the few places I have remembered to take pictures of so far and it's by far one of the coolest restaurants I've ever been to. The food is placed in little bowls and set to rotate around the establishment on a little conveyer belt. As the food comes by you can have your choice. I felt that it was very futuristic.

As the year progresses and the pictures are compiled we will be sure to keep you updated on our new place!!!

Worldwide Job Insecurity

I find myself again wondering if I will have a job next year. It seems that I have spent the last 3 and a half years of my life wondering what's going to happen to my job and where will I be for the next school year.

My last job had constant struggles with their contract. Would it be renewed? Maybe not... That's why I left - who can deal with that type of insecurity? And in "good economic times" too.

Anyway, the media keeps it hush hush that the UAE is having a hard time during this so-called worldwide "crisis" of the economy, but they are hurting too. Levi and I thought that at least my job would be here next year and so we decided to stay, now we are not so sure. Budgets are being cut by the government for these school improvement projects, so that means people have to go. The only saving grace is that possibly we will still obtain new schools and I will be able to stay. They have been dangling new high schools in front of our faces for a few months now, but we will not know anything until after July 5th. By then I will be camping in the Colorado mountains with friends and family.

I am trying not to worry too much because I do feel that we will be awarded a new high school, but there is still the nagging doubt in the back of mind. How will I survive the next three weeks at a school that I know I will NOT be at next year? And, then, how do I survive the remaining three weeks in limbo? I guess I've done it before and I will do it again...

Random Monkey Acts

Yesterday we went on a brunch cruise along the Abu Dhabi corniche. I didn't get sea sick and I had a lot of fun!

They served us champagne the whole time we were cruising and I drank a little too much - I had to come home and take a nap. Good thing Sassafrass was driving!

I decided to try some shrimp from the buffet. It tasted good, but I had a hard time peeling back the feelers and eyes, maybe next time I will ask them to do that for me - ewww!

Sassafrass bought a new ring the day before and she wore it on the cruise. This is my favorite one - I wanted to steal it for myself!

This morning we went for breakfast at Mugg & Bean. Coffee was great for my hangover, but I couldn't decide on the sugar - white? brown? or Sweet N Low?

Dubai for Pepe

Pepe's recent adventures in Dubai. He's one crazy monkey!

Checking out the hotel rooms - these beds are nice. What should I write home about?

Hanging out by the pool, even though the sun had set it was still relaxing.

Now it's time to hit the sauna - why are we in here when it's 105 degrees outside with 75% humidity? I just don't know.

At the Dubai Museum learning about the history of the United Arab Emirates. Where's the monkeys?

Their doorways are so small for Sassafrass, but I'm good!

Dubai creek - filled with Abras (water taxis).

Riding the Big Bus to see the city sites, it's cool in here, but hot outside!

Wafi Mall - everyone will think I've gone to Egypt!

Brunch at Planet Hollywood. I saw Lawrence of Arabia's dishdasha! Sweet! [Oh, and there he is behind me!]

Single and Dancing

Okay the title is a little misleading... yes, I am currently without my husband AND on Thursday night I saw some great flamenco dancing!

I realized today that being without my husband has been a little weird and a little nice too. I have never lived on my own, so the two and a half weeks without him was quite the experience. Even though my mom is here I still feel the difference of being temporarily single.

I looked at my bed today. I don't make my bed in the morning (I know - shame for shame) but it's funny because half the bed is still made. I have tugged a little bit on the top blanket but for the most part it is laid out and smooth! Also, I did some laundry and I placed it on the bed to be put away, but I never did get back to it and there it lies still! If Levi had been here I would have put the laundry away, but it's in nobody's way and it's so convenient for me. Oh dear! What have I started?!

For two weeks I also did not have to worry about: what's for dinner? what's for lunch? what do you want to do today? It was all about me: I'm hungry now and I don't feel like cooking much so I will have popcorn for dinner or just a small sandwich. I think I will just lounge on the couch today or I will have lunch with a friend impromptu.

Even though I have enjoyed my time alone and do not want to give up what I do have with Levi. I am starting to miss him terribly and I still have 7 weeks until we see each other again... I hope I can survive!

On a lighter note, my mother and I went to see the "Paco Pena Flamenco Dance Company" at Abu Dhabi Culture and Heritage. I was very entranced by the dancing - it's so amazing! There were 2 male dancers and 1 female along with 3 guitarists, 1 percussionist, 1 female singer and 1 male singer. There were so many ways to rearrange this amount of people that it made it fun. Even though the male dancers were performing most of the time it was still fun for all of us. The female dancer did accompany one guitarist on castenets, but not while she was dancing (what a beautiful sound though).

In the end we all felt how amazing the whole performance was and we were glad that we could participate in such a great, FREE event!!!

Teachings of the Quran

Today I was talking with a co-worker. The discussion started because she wants to put Red Crescent (yep, just like Red Cross) collection banks in each classroom so the boys will learn to give what they can to the poor and others in need. She started to tell me about what the Quran says about giving to the poor and then the conversation went on from there. I learned quite a bit and I thought that I would share a few things:

1. The Quran states that after you have paid your bills you should give 2.5% of the leftover amount to the poor.

2. It contains detailed information on how a fetus grows from conception to birth.

3. It gives detailed instructions on how inheritance money should be split among a person's relatives/survivors/community in the case of their death (no will needed!)

4. It states that a man must give his wife an allowance even if she has plenty of her own money to spend.

5. It states that a man can take many wives only in dire circumstances (i.e. the other wife can no longer have children (or never could); the other wife does not desire other children and the husband does; the first wife agrees to another marriage).

6.The Quran also states that anal sex is a no-no because of the health risks.

7. It says that married women are allowed to go and visit her parents without her husband's permission.

8. It also says that married women should have their independence to run businesses or seek other endeavors without their husbands looking over their shoulder all the time.

9. Lastly, (of the things we talked about and that I remember) people should not eat any type of meat from pigs because they are dirty, foul animals.

Remember the Quran was written over 2000 years ago. I was amazed at the detail that it entails and the strict guidance that it gives. As in any religion there are those people that use the words to their own interpretation and give everyone else a bad name (uh like the Taliban). I respect those Muslims that follow the Quran with all their heart, but I still am fully convinced that the Bible is the book to help guide my life.