Archives for February 2012

“No go!”

It’s been one month since I left my classroom, and to be honest, I don’t miss it. I’m looking forward to job satisfaction in the future but right now I feel pretty content. This is probably the best time in my life (as well as the best conditions) to be unemployed, and I’m pretty happy to just enjoy it.

During my last few days of school my students began to shower me with notes and love. Common themes were “I love you.” “No go America.” and simply, “No go.”

I was bombarded by Post-It notes.

“I love you, Ms. Jill but you go to the America. Ms. Jill come for me please Ms. Jill I love you so much and you the princess.”

Written backwards Arabic style: “I love you Ms. Jill no go I love you no go.”

They couldn’t change my mind, but it was still pretty sweet.

xo, jill

For giants.

Before I moved to Abu Dhabi I watched many video clips of the city. Over and over again I kept seeing the same giant statues. The coffee pot and canon stood out the most. I assumed that when I arrived in Abu Dhabi I’d recognize and regularly see these icons of the city. But nope. Not really.

For whatever reason, I’m rarely in the statues’ neighborhood. So, the other day on our way to Butt Sweet House, Mike and I popped into the park to check them out.

Covering for food / Incense burnerPerfume dropper / Dallah or coffee pot
Everyone’s favorite, the giant canon

I like to think that if Abu Dhabi had its own Monopoly game, these statues would be the pieces.

The park itself looked like it had seen better days. Many of the tiles were missing and there were only a few other visitors there with us. I think perhaps Abu Dhabi is turning to it’s newer and fancier icons, like Emirates Palace, the Grand Mosque, or the Formula One track.

xo, jill

Oh so sweet.

There’s one restaurant that every English speaking ex-pat who spends more than .2 seconds in central Abu Dhabi will notice: Butt Sweet House.

Butt Sweet has had me giggling since 2009. Recently Mike and I indulged in the pleasure of visiting it.

It’s primarily an Arabic sweet shop but we got potato samosa type things because really…I think Arabic sweets are kind of gross.

The samosa, however, was very good.

xo, jill