Getting a license in the UAE

Because driving in the UAE is on the same side as the States, it is quite simple to transfer licenses across.

In Abu Dhabi (AD), you will need to make a trip to the Transport Authorities (AD Police) after receiving a residence visa. You will need a no-objection letter from your company, a copy of your passport, original driver's license, residence visa, two passport-size photos, and a total of 200dhs. When you arrive at the police, you'll tell the people at the information desk why you are there and they will first direct you to a room for your eye test, which will cost 50dhs. Then, you return to the information desk, and get directed with a number to the main area.

You'll then hand over your documents, money and wait for your new license to be made! It was actually a very quick process and fairly painless.

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There are two ways to get an international driver's license. The easiest way is through a post office. You will need a copy of your UAE license, passport copy, two photos and 150dhs. When you arrive at the post office, the person at the information desk will give you a form to complete before directing you to a window where you'll hand in your documents. Again, another easy process.

The other way to get the international license is through the Arabian Automobile Association. Their main office is located in Dubai and thus you'll have to go there to get the license. It's only 50dhs through AAA, so if you're in Dubai already, it's not a bad method.

More tips to come!

-T

Abu Dhabi: A week complete

Eventually I will have to stop counting the time that has passed and
truly accept that this is where I live but I still am adjusting. Life
isn't truly settled until I have Internet access at home (to come in a
few days!) and more furniture. The good news is that my material life
is in the country and en route to my new digs. So perhaps then I will
feel better.

The first day of classes has passed. I have an interesting group of 13
whom I will see for 4 hours a day over the next 8 weeks. It is my hope
they will all pass out of the class so that they can be fully
matriculated in the university but already there are a couple that are
questionable and it is no surprise this is their last chance to pass
the program...

Adjusting to the schedule may be the most challenging. I am currently
sharing taxi ride with another new colleague but she has an earlier
schedule than me. I start at 8 three time a week and finish around 2.
The other two days I don't start until 10 and then finish around 4.
She is always on a 730 - 130 schedule so we are going in around 630.
Still early even by my standards. The cool thing is that there isn't
much need to lesson plan much and after work I still have time in the
day to do other things.

So this afternoon I got my Internet ordered and cell phone set up so I
can receive and make international calls. Then I headed to the mall
for a bit of pampering with a pedicure and more house-shopping. I only
managed new bedding but that is an accomplishment considering most
stuff is a bit too boudour-esque for me.

So this ends another long blog post. I really got post more regularly
to share everything!!!

Until next time...

-T

twaller2008@i.softbank.jp
Sent from my iPhone

Abu Dhabi: Days 4 & 5

I'm not sure if it is more stressful to settle in to an apartment,
start a new job with very little knowledge of the course, or walk
around at night as a single woman with streets filled with only men.
Votes?

The past two days have been filled with information about classes. It
has definitely been much more useful than some of re other stuff, but
my head is swimming. I spent two days trying to figure out how to
print in by office. Finally I got it sorted about a half hour before I
was planning to leave. So at least I know what I need to copy fist
thing on Sunday morning.

For the first time I am using PowerPoint as my teaching medium. So I
spent a couple of hours today sorting out my lesson plan for the first
two-hour session with my new students. After a day of rest I will plan
the second two-hour session before Sunday. I think the planning will
get easier and faster soon though.

Today being "Friday" means that drinks were in order after a full
week. So while we planned to go to Ikea again the traffic was so bad
getting a taxi that we decided to hit the happy hour where our new
colleagues were gathering this week. Apparently each week takes them
to a new venue which will be nice for getting to know people and the
city.

After a couple of drinks we went shopping. Before I knew it the mall
was closing and I realized it was already 11pm. So we do not recommend
shopping after drinking!

Overall the week has come to a nice end. I need a break for part of a
day at the least. But it seems that the job will be good and life will
be manageable...

So until next time,

-T

twaller2008@i.softbank.jp
Sent from my iPhone

Abu Dhabi: Orientation Days 1 ~ 3

It is hard to believe that three days have already passed since leaving Japan and arriving in Abu Dhabi. The days have been a blur with information overload, shopping until dropping (literally) and adjustments mentally, physically and emotionally to a new culture and place.

The best part of the whole situation at the moment is the hotel I am staying at. The Rotana Beach Hotel is lovely.
The photo is of the ceiling in the lobby, just thought it looked cool. ;D

So, Day 1 was a bit of a rough start. As Nick and I didn't have access to the updated schedule, we waited about a half hour in the lobby thinking someone would be there to pick us up. 9am came around when our first orientation session should have begun and no one was to be found in our hotel. After trying to make a few calls or find out what was going on, it turned out that we missed the provided transportation to take us to the university. Thus, we hopped in to a very expensive taxi and made it to the university on our own. After arriving, we spent another 15 minutes trying to suss out where we should be since no one was in the room we were told to go to. In the end, we managed to find the orientation session in full swing, but walked right in as if nothing was amiss. The funnier thing is that no one else seemed at all bothered by the fact that we were 45 minutes late.

Culture rule #1 realized - Time is a fluid concept...except in the classroom.

So, we continued with orientation along with everyone else. Met a few of the other new starts. There are about 15 of us in total, though all but 5 of us started a week ago and thus have bonded a bit more, settled in to their apartments more, etc.

Day 2 began with a health check-up. We got up before the sun, went to the hospital to have blood drawn and an x-ray taken. Then, if was a serious day of shopping or comparing prices for things, considering what should go into the unnecessary space that is called my apartment and try not to freak out at the whole idea of it all! I did manage by the very end of the day to buy my fridge, gas/electric range oven and washer/dryer machine. Also, to avoid a bed purchase, I got an air mattress to use until my things arrive next week from Japan and bedding for an extra bed should I ever get around to furnishing a guest room. By the end, I collapsed into my comfy hotel bed at 9:30 until the alarm roused me at 6:30 on Day 3.

Now is the end of Day 3, which I think was perhaps the most useless day of all. We had another early start, but started with an overview of the university and students lecture, then moved on to IT stuff. Some of it was useful information, but overall I was generally bored and wanted to just find my desk space and know my class schedule. I am told the class stuff comes tomorrow, so I am looking forward to that. The greatest fun was finding my desk. Another new guy said he saw my name on a desk at the Men's Campus - a 10minute walk from the main campus, where Nick is located - so I went with others there to find my desk. I walked around all the desks and found no Tara Waller. I did see a desk with someone named Tara D----. That wasn't me.... So, I trekked back to the main campus and went to the large teachers' room and looked around and around. I saw another cubicle with Tara D----'s name on it, but no Tara Waller. Great! I thought I was confused by the other Tara and had no home.... However, after being directed to speak with the lady responsible for assigning cubicle spaces, she took me across the hall to a smaller teachers' room, where at last I found a home! It was satisfying, though the environment could be questionable with a noisy fan and less enthusiastic neighbor, but we shall see how it goes. The cool thing is I have met a fellow Portlander whose cubicle is in front of mine, so we can continue to have an Oregon bond. ;D

So, this winds up my first 72 hours in Abu Dhabi. I've made some cultural notes already, but that shall come later.

Until tomorrow,

-T

Good-bye for now Japan, Hello at the moment Abu Dhabi!

January 31, 2009 at 10:40am, I left Japan with this as my view from the airplane.

February 1, 2009 at 7:45am, I awoke with a view of this:

A new chapter of my life is beginning. It is bittersweet as I have left my heart in Japan, but I am also eager to try a new adventure. Today was an interesting day. More details on that to come soon as I will eventually write my posts on my Creative Meanderings blog since this will become my daily life.

For now, pictures of my soon-to-be-new apartment can be found here.

More to come...

-T