Getting Settled

Here we are in Dubai. It has been a whirlwind - sometimes frightening, sometimes overwhelming, and always exciting. For the past 5 nights we have been staying in a two bedroom apartment hotel. Our suite has 10 foot ceilings, marble floors throughout and granite countertops. I am certain that it has more square footage than our house!!!! We have one last night here and then we move into our apartment tomorrow.
We have spent the first few days here trying to overcome jet lag (I am faring the worst and the latest I have slept in is 2 AM!!!), becoming familiar with our area and trying to find furnishings for our apartment. It looks like we will be spending the first few nights on air mattresses because Rick is determined to find the best deal on furniture! Our problem has been trying to figure out how to get into many malls around here. We rented a car and have been trying to find our way using vague and inaccurate maps. Actually we did pretty well today. We made some wrong turns, but didn't get lost. Well I guess we are always feeling lost for now. At least we made it to everywhere we wanted to go and back to the hotel.
We stopped by the college the other day and I met some co-workers and chose my office. I officially start work on Sunday. Our apartment is in decent walking distance from the college. On cooler days I think that I will walk.
The kids are doing amazing at taking things one day at a time. They are having a good time, despite all the time wandering through stores looking for boring home furnishings. They don't seem any the worse for all the stress we are under. Now, it is a different story for Rick and I. We generally feel off balance and confused. Now that we have made progress in setting up our home, it is getting more comfortable.
I'll send photos when I get my computer set up - maybe even early next week.

bye for now,

Daryl