There and Back Again: The Adventures Begins

I think I missed an email in the last few months that my mom sent, but you will have to be ok with this one. :] -Hanna





There and Back Again: The Adventures Begins

The last of November our furniture was delivered and unpacked in the new villa. I had hurt my back and was flat out for 4 days and Jim was traveling. We had so much to do that I had to hire help twice, just to get the basics done before flying to the states. At the same time we were trying to instruct our son Andy and his wife on details to get in order so they could fly back to Dubai with us or right after us. We had to have a house/dog sitter while we were gone and had asked our realtor for advice. She allowed her housekeeper to work for us. What a relief.

On December 7, 2010 I was walking, but very uncomfortable. I saw the Dubai airport for the first time, it was daylight. What a beautiful place!! We flew into London and from there to Chicago. The layover in London was cold and long and miserable, as we had to be bussed from the plane to the terminal, then from the terminal to the plane. We had no real winter clothes to put on, so we wore layers. When we arrived in Chicago, our rental car reservations could not be found. So we had one more thing to deal with that we had tried to take care of before leaving Dubai.

We had one day in Hinckley and then drove to Stevens Point to see Julia’s concert. My family was there for the weekend to support Julia also. Our daughter Hanna flew in from Idaho. It was truly glorious to be with them all. This concert was the main reason we had gone back to the states. While in Stevens Point, Hanna’s friend became very sick and spent most of her time in the room. The state of Wisconsin was hit with a snow storm that would have stopped Larry the Logroller and Paul Bunyan. By Sunday morning Hanna was feeling a bit under the weather and her friend was not getting better. I took a survey to see if Jim and I should go to Wabeno as originally planned, or drive back to Illinois with Hanna and her friends. The results were for the latter and I had to concur. So, with heavy hearts we all said our good-byes and headed to our destinations.

Sunday night Hanna was good and sick. She was to fly out early Monday morning. Jim and Hanna left the house at 4:30 am. Dropped Hanna off at the airport and returned to Hinckley. Hanna contacted me and said that due to the snow storm she had very long delays and would not get into Boise until late at night. Therefore she would miss her night class anyway. So, she booked another flight for the next day and Jim went back into the city to pick her up. She slept all day. On Tuesday morning Jim took her back to the airport at o’dark a clock. She did get safely to Boise and was in bed for days.
We spent the next few days taking care of business. We were to fly out on the 17th. The storms in Europe and the United States caused flights to be canceled. We had to get in touch with the housekeeper and let her know we would be delayed a few more days. The opportunity was open to spend a bit more time with my parents in Green Bay. The flight on the 20th was also canceled due to the weather. Again, the housekeeper had to be contacted. Jim was beginning to get antsy to return to work. On the morning of the 21st we loaded up Andy’s family and headed to the airport. To our dismay, we discovered that flight reservations had not been confirmed. Jim spent hours trying to get us a flight out that day. We rented a shuttle and returned to Hinckley. We had flight reservations for the 24th of December. Thank goodness that we had left the Hinckley house unlocked and that Gary and Rhonda had done the same. No matter how hard we tried to get out of the states, it just would not happen. Jim and I had to leave as our time in the states affects our residency in Dubai.

I don’t believe I have words to explain how we were all feeling at this point. Trying to keep in touch with people in Dubai, trying to stay occupied in the states without pacing like a caged lion, and waiting for the weather to clear and stay clear so we could fly out.

We finally were all on a plane headed to Houston Texas. From there we flew on Emirates Air, non-stop to Dubai. What a lovely airline, all of the way around.
After fourteen and a half hours of flight, we arrived on Dubai the night of December 25. The airport was empty, so no long lines to get passports stamped, pick up luggage, or exchange funds. We were safe, warm, extremely jet-lagged and exhausted.

The long flights give a person time to think about life and the people who make life happen. Jim’s Mom has been the best cheerleader and is doing all of the official financial paper work for us. Now she is trying to do our taxes. What a work of love. Jim’s Dad spent a lot of time with us, encouraging us, and offering advice on many topics to make sure we had thought of this or that. He worked our garage sales and never complained when he had to dance around piles of stuff we were sorting. My Mom was a constant ear and full of encouragement when I just had to melt down. She has also been the official keeper of all the children’s documents. If my children need something, Grandma and Grandpa get a call. But, the biggest thing my parents and Grandma Blanche have done to make our move to Dubai happen is: They have made available storage space for things that we could not take or would not survive the move. They stopped life to help us move items that we, or the children, thought were important. My Dad humbly, vigorously and with great humor threw his back and support into everything we had to do. Uncle Jan took hours one afternoon to help unload a truck of wood and tools. We are truly grateful. As adults we needed our parents so desperately and they were there. Talk about being needy. Thank you to Mom and Dad on both sides. We could not have done it without you. Another person who has been a great blessing is Diane. She has and is watching our lake home. It is such a relief to have a neighbor that can be trusted so much that she has the checkbook and is making all decisions regarding the house. And of course, Mr. and Mrs. Lambes who are taking care of the Hinckley house and affairs until the house sells. No matter how hard we tried to settle and close as many affairs as possible stateside, it sure seems that a great deal of our life is still happening over there.
Where is home for us? This is a struggle that we often ponder.

Jim has been traveling a great deal since we have returned. He has been to Uzbekistan, Scotland, Kuwait, Oman and numerous cities in Saudi Arabia. He has been to some of these places repeatedly. Andy flies to Kuwait today.

Jim’s trip to Pakistan has been canceled until further notice.

WEIR closely monitors security in the regions they intend to send employees. Jim also gets email notifications from the Warden’s Office regarding places for Americans to avoid, due to potential danger. These emails also include the address and phone number of the local embassy or consulate if for some reason a person is there when trouble starts.

Dubai is a large emirate of many cities. Dubai is the largest and main city of the emirate. We do not live in the city of Dubai. We are in the Dubai Investment Park, Green Community West.

I am telling you all of this for a number of reasons. Be careful of what you hear from the media. Sensationalism is alive and well, but not always accurate. If the lead cannot be followed, do not let it lead.
The joke here is that we need to be on the media payroll. They put a bit of information out regarding Dubai and then we have to fill in the information. We are doing the most important part of their job. I want a pay check for investigative reporting.

Violence and protesting that occurs in the countries or Sultanates around us does not mean that we are in danger. The UAE is a very separate government system. The present and previous Sheikh of Dubai is and has been most sagacious in setting up rules to take care of the Emiratis, the Nationals and the Expiates. Laws have been set up and are being made to protect each group. The Emiratis are very well taken care of. As conditions need to be addressed and changed to take care of a special group, it is done. Because so few people are citizens, they can be deported for causing trouble. And the consulate does not provide help to trouble makers. Dubai is known worldwide for the low crime rate. I hope that this will make people feel a bit better. Just like any place in the world, violence, crime and accidents do happen. Mans’ fallen nature often leads then people do bad or wrong things. As long as there is human life there will be crime.

Please feel free to contact us if for any reason you have concerns. The computer is in the kitchen so I can see incoming mail right away. Our phone is in the office, so, if you plan to call, send an email and I will make sure to have the door opened to hear the phone. If we know that we will be unable to take your call, I will let you know.

We do not wish for people to worry about us. So please contact us. It is very easy for us to say, “Do not worry.” But it is easier said than done. I know, as I have family back in the states and when I read the news I wonder, “How is this affecting so and so?”

My daughters will be traveling to Dubai in May, for a visit. Then Hanna is off the Eucador for a medics missions trip. Julia will be staying stateside for the summer I believe.

We will be traveling to the states during the summer and are looking forward to a safe trip.
Exactly where is home for us? Thank God that I know that heaven is my final home.