it's becoming a little more real - 5 weeks to go

On Sunday I had the chance to meet some of the other 'new hires' (as we seem to be called most often) as well as some seasoned teachers from AAG. What an awesome afternoon. I arrived around 2:30 and everyone was sitting in the garage, just hanging out; the new hires asking the seasoned so many questions about everything and anything.

They are all so friendly! It sounds like next year is going to be amazing. I'm so excited to get over there (although I have to admit that i'm also super excited about the preparations...my visa is definitely getting a workout).

We sat outside for most of the afternoon and it's incredible how fast the time went by. The ladies dispelled some fears (and some myths...sigh) that we had.

For example:
- Scorpions are only in the desert, and spiders aren't really a problem.
- It DOES get cold in the winter, so there will be no tan at Christmas. In fact, they said that it's colder there (relatively, not actually...but that cold dry wind from the gulf is bitter)
- It's a third-world country with first-world money...but third-world mentality. So things will be slow. But we have a cool guy named Hussin who will help us out!
- There is internet in our apartment building, but it's wireless and only available in some areas(see above)
- Cellphones there are cooler than they are here, and much more necessary. (ie. we're buying them in the airport)
- I have my own classroom! And the textbook we use is called Allez Viens.
- We can transfer our funds from one country to the next using online banking. YAY!...for paying off the student loans. (sigh).
- Ikea is identical in Kuwait as it is here (although i've never seen Ikea here, I can only imagine that to be a good thing)

Just 5 more weeks, enshallah... (God willing)