Hello!
Welcome to my Adventures around Asia 2016 blog. It is 7:10pm, I'm in Dubai Airport Terminal 3 enjoying a nice cold beer. Something which is very welcome considering it is 46 degrees celsius today!
As I start my travels this year many things in my life have changed and things are very different to when I set off on my adventures last summer.
I have now completed my first year teaching at GEMS Wellington Primary School and my first year living abroad has come to an end. To say it has been an amazing 10 months doesn't do it justice! I want to take this time to reflect on my Dubai journey so far...
Moving Out...
Moving out of home has been a revelation and was something of a jump into the dark back in August when I moved to Dubai. I am pleased to say that I have managed to cook for myself all year and with the help of a maid or two keep my apartment clean and tidy all year. I have loved having my own place and enjoyed making my apartment home during the first few months, even if it did cost me a small fortune. No expense was spared as I astroturfed my balcony and bought more or less the whole of IKEA! It definitely feels like home and welcoming a number of visitors over the year has been great!
Friends...
Without sounding too soppy and getting out a huge cheese platter I couldn't have wished for a better group of people to live with in Condor Castle!
We were lucky to be in JVC and living alongside likeminded people has been a real highlight of my time here so far. Thanks to each and everyone of my friends in Dubai for making it a year to remember!
School...
Working at GWPS instead of The Oaks was a huge shock to the system at first. The schools are worlds apart but both are equally as amazing to work in. After becoming accustomed to the systems of working in a school with 1200+ children and 100+ staff I began to find my feet and have throughly enjoyed my first year. My class were wonderful and I again struck lucky and had a very supportive TA and parent team! I was lucky enough to be appointed Head of Technology for the next academic year and look forward to tackling my first leadership role from August.
My first year at GWPS would not have been the same without my friends and colleagues in Year 5+6! It's great to be part of such a great team and I look forward to another year of good times! However... For the moment School's out! So that's enough of that talk.....
Living in Dubai...
Life in Dubai never fails to disappoint! The rules and regulations of the UAE are to be respected but in the right places you can live life normally and do whatever you like.
I have had some amazing experiences throughout the year including: Boat Parties, Brunches, Beach days, Drinks in the Burj Khalifa, Meals out, New Year on a boat, Carols in the Desert, Nights out, Choir concerts, Golf tournaments, Scuba Diving trips and Football... The list is endless!
Living in Dubai has many advantages and I have definitely made the most of it! I'm very happy here and life is good!!
Going separate ways...
Just over 2 months ago I walked into a bar after a meal with the lads to meet the girls who were celebrating a birthday. Little did I know that this would be the start of what it has become... I met a special certain someone that night and I am now the luckiest man in the world! I have had the best 2 months with my special someone and she makes me very very happy. Last night we said our goodbyes for the summer and as we go our separate ways and venture off around different parts of the world for 7 weeks the 20th of August 2016 is a date I look forward to with excitement and a huge smile on my face! I know there are endless happy times to come!
It is now 7:48pm... I have 1 hour and 13 minutes until my flight to Singapore and the start of my summer adventures.
This years travels have been planned over the last 6 months and I look forward to exploring the world once again! In 50 days I will return to Dubai having visited Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.
I hope you enjoy reading my blog as much as I enjoy writing it. As always it is written for my Grandma Elsie so she can travel and experience the world through me!
Finally, before I sign off I thought I would explain my decision to go blonde... I did it because you only live once and I just felt like it, why not!
Bye for now...
Tom x