Leaving home August 24, 2007
Posted by Roze in Uncategorized.trackback
The accumulation of six weeks of tears, sweat, toil, and sheer exhaustion have resulted in this; me finally sitting here in my apartment in Al-Ain sleepily penning my initial thoughts and impressions of recent events. It feels very surreal to be doing this. Now we don’t actually have internet just yet so I can only do this if and when. Also, even when I do get internet I won’t have the time to write and re-write long descriptive mails to everyone individually. This way whoever is interested can find out a little about Al-Ain through my eyes (I warn you though, I am short sighted), also if anyone is intending on moving to these parts then this may be of use.
I can’t start without telling you how hard I actually found it leaving old blighty. Much harder than I anticipated; the emotional strain manifested itself in my heart feeling heavy and dark in the last few days. Leaving family, friends and my home for an indefinite period was in itself a hardship and a trial. It made me realize that I should try not to make such sentimental attachments to every little thing I pass in life, but inevitably the human heart is weak and most of us do.
Landing at Abu Dhabi airport, I was so relieved to have a dear sister and her family with us. They had been on the same flight and it felt reassuring to have them with us-almost as though I had a part of what I had left behind with me still.
Looking out of the airport windows, I saw palm trees in long lines separating the fast dual carriageway-my first scene of the outside world in UAE, just that was in itself amazing. Stepping out of the airport I expected a cool evening breeze- I was amazed to find myself feeling suffocated….the air was hot, and initially un-breathable. I wondered how I would ever survive the daytime if it was this hot at 9pm.
The ‘home run’ was actually a drive on a small coach to Al-Ain. We were crammed into our seats with luggage in between aisles and piled up at the front near our driver, who drove with agile resilience and a slight hint of insanity to the end.
What I couldn’t believe was the landscape on the way home. I kind of expected sand dunes and desert, but I found beautiful mosques of various shapes and sizes, shops lit up with various colours, and houses huge and grande. Islamically influenced architecture beautified the buildings, the colours vibrant; it was a world apart from Britain already.
We arrived in Al-Ain exhausted but relieved to finally reach our new home safely. Alhumdulillah.
Welcome to you (both). We arrived back on Monday and thankfully there weren’t too many pests (dead ones, all) in the house for the post summer clean up. Hope you enjoy your time here.
Hi Roze, pleased to hear you all arrived safe and sound and are settling in. I’ve been thinking about you a lot and wished you well so I was so pleased to get your email. Well all the very best to you all and hope to hear from you soon. Take care, lots of love Dawn xx P.S. Chloe’s doing really well and walking and talking loads now bless her. Look after yourself…..
Hey Dawn!!
Great to hear from you.
hope you are all doing well.
glad Chloe is coming on – enjoy it. Musa has extended his one word vocab from ball to juice..lol…progress…
take care
roze x
Hi Roze
So glad to hear your ok, arrived safely and settling into a new way of life. I loved reading your blog – you should be a travel writer!!! I felt i was there with you sharing your unique experiences.
Im happy for you now but the day we said goodbye felt like i was carrying a boulder in my stomach and chest.
Anyway you wont be missing the awful weather….its raining and windy and grey and gloomy!!
Take care and hello to all the family. Mine is well and driving me nuts but nothing is new!
Love Ya!!
Junexx
Hi Roze
So glad to hear your ok, arrived safely and settling into a new way of life. I loved reading your blog – you should be a travel writer!!! I felt i was there with you sharing your unique experiences.
Im happy for you now but the day we said goodbye felt like i was carrying a boulder in my stomach and chest.
Anyway you wont be missing the awful weather….its raining and windy and grey and gloomy!!
Take care and hello to all the family. Mine is well and driving me nuts but nothing is new!
Love Ya!!
Junexx
AssalamuAlaikum roze it was so heart warming to hear from you mashaAllah! I hope you and the family (and the ‘dear sister’
and family are well. Lokking forward to reading more about it, hows the arabic going?
june – thanks so much for getting in touch. you sound hapy n chirpy, im glad. take care, keep in touch, love to all at home and hazel!
umm maymoonah – wonderful to hear from you. hope you are well, we are trying to finda teacher for the arabic, in the meantime we are having fun with trial and error amateur arabic, love to ‘moonah!!
Hi Roze,
How are you all? We’re all fine end and Chloe’s growing up so fast it’s frightening. Can’t believe she’s 2 now!!! I just wish time would stay still so I can enjoy it more if that makes sense.
How’s things your end? What are the boys up to (all 3)??
Michelle Biggs sends her love and best wishes.
Hope to hear from you soon. Take care, lots of love Dawn xxxx