December 31 2012

Well, this year is coming to a close.  Boy, has it been an eventful year.

January

• I travelled to Canada to attend TORF and surprise my nieces - the first time I was actually with my oldest niece on her birthday AND it was the first double digit birthday!
• Signed a letter of intent to take a position in Dubai

February

• Returned to Korea from Canada and Koshka (aka girl cat) was ill; vet diagnosed her with end stage renal failure. This signalled weekly trips to the vet, multiple blood tests, and daily medications for Koshka

March

• Started part 1 of a 3 part specialist qualification in Teacher Librarianship through Queen's / Ontario College of Teachers - in conjunction with finishing up the remaining classes for my Master of Education Degree through Deakin University in Australia

April

• Started the paperwork process for my UAE visa.  NOT fun or inexpensive.  Hired a lawyer in Australia to take care of all my Australian paperwork and a firm in Canada to take care of all the Canadian paperwork while I was living in Korea.  (Paperwork for UAE visa must go through several steps in the originating country before it can go to the UAE Embassy in that country, before it can pass through immigration in the UAE...)
• Koshka spends a week in hospital after a 'crash' with her blood work numbers.  Sent home with a nasal gastric tube for feeding and hydration - she hates the tube and the tube is removed after 2 consecutive 'good' sets of numbers.

May

• Finishing up last papers for MEd and starting process for cats to leave Korea and enter UAE
• Finished part 1 of Teacher Librarianship specialization

June

• Finished all requirements for MEd degree.  Waiting on confirmation of graduation
• Start part 2 of Teacher Librarian specialization
• Koshka has another ' crash', another week in hospital, and finally comes home with another nasal gastric tube which is replaced with an esophageal tube for hydration only  - she would eat without the nasal tube.

July

• Waiting on visa confirmation from UAE
• Koshka goes in to have the esophageal tube checked and adjusted - doesn't come out of the anaesthetic.  RIP Koshka 

August

• Final preparations for moving to Dubai.
• Hooligan departs 6 hours before me for a road journey to Seoul, some time at the exporters facilities, transfer to veterinary quarantine in the afternoon for a midnight departure.  Hooligan will arrive in Seoul 4 hours after I do and will go through the importation process with a local importer and be delivered to the Dubai apartment.
• I depart a few after Hooligan for a rail journey to Seoul, have too much baggage and have to pay baggage overages, flight delayed out of Seoul, arrive in transit through China - they don't like the fact that my passport isn't pristine and it takes 'awhile' to clear customs to change planes.  Flight out of china delayed due to late arrival of onward aircraft, further delayed by bad weather (yes it was monsoon season and it was a near coastal airport), finally bussed out to plane several hours later to walk through the deluge to the steps of the aircraft to sit on the tarmac for a further 2 hours in the hopes that the weather would clear enough fora take off.
• Arrive in Dubai with all my paperwork to be told by UAE immigration officer I was denied entry - it was sorted when he looked up the correct flight.  (he had assumed that because I had a Canadian Passport and a Canadian originating flight had just landed that I was on that flight and of course there was no record of my immigration status connected to that flight).

September

• Started work at the new school - hectic, busy
• Start to furnish my empty apartment
• Finish part 2 of Teacher Librarian specialization

October

• Start part 3 of Teacher Librarian specialization
• rented a car (Nissan Tiida 4 door coupe) and started to drive in Dubai (yikes!)
• Attended a 3 day IB workshop (level 3) on Librarianship and the IB
• MEd (Educational Leadership and Administration) degree arrives - it is official I now hold a MEd(EdLead&Admin) degree.

November

• Purchased a Mitsubishi Outlander GLS V6 3.0l CVT.  Finding driving less stressful - in part due to some confidence and in part due to driving something a bit bigger
• Saw Skyfall (Daniel Craig is a very good blend of the earlier 'man of action' James Bond and the more recent ' ladies man' Bond)
• Hooligan still not acting himself after the loss of Koshka and the move.  Off to the vet's.  THANKFULLY just a bit of digestive and elimination issues - new food, some laxative paste and he was back to his old self. (the relief I felt was immense.)

December

• Finished part 3 of Teacher Librarian Specialization
• Awarded Teacher Librarian Specialist qualification on my Ontario College of Teachers teaching license.
• Spending the winter break in Dubai, watched Twilight Breaking Dawn pt 2 (I had seen the others on the movie channels while in Korea, it seemed only correct to finish the series), The Hobbit an unexpected journey 3D, The Life of Pi 3D, and Argo.

I hope that 2013 is a wonderful year for anyone who is reading this - that any challenges you face help you to grow and the opportunities which present themselves to you are breathtaking and adventurous.

Happy New Year one and all.

How was your day?

I have spent the last 4 days nearly going blind doing data entry (ISBNs and Barcodes) due to a 2 year back log of cataloguing for the library - there is no scanner in the back room and the software/database license was allowed to lapse so EVERYTHING has to be done manually.

I am on a course over the weekend, 8- 4 both days, excited about the course but as I am feeling completely burnt out I am not so sure the timing is the best! Then, I return to work to spend another week doing more data entry ( I describe it as fighting a forest fire with a teaspoon) -  basically I am  working a 12 day week.

I find out this morning my CC is blocked due to a bogus $1000 charge -  some place called " NO MORE RACK"...  those who know me will see the humour in that!  I need to fax the bank to sort this out as the bank can not find my POA forms for my POA can't do anything.

I attempted to rent a car today - will need it for this weekend course and to get around while I look for a car to purchase - but didn't have all the necessary papers.  EVERYTHING requires a ton of copies of a ton of things!

Phoned an Electronic shop in the Mall of the Emirates to ensure they had what I wanted - the clerk swore blind that they had it in stock and yes, madam, several of them.

 I took a taxi to a few blocks short of the Mall of the Emirates - forgot I hadn't gone to the bank yet, walked the rest of the way to the MoE and promptly went to the ATM.

I bought a printer and a few other electronic items (The printer I wanted, the one the fellow swore blind was in stock - of course it wasn't)!

 THEN, I spent a lovely time with security as I "BEEPED" leaving the story - clerk forgot to demagnetize one of my purchases and with several bags, multiple pockets and many places in my handbag it took awhile to find my receipt.  The hysterical giggling woman (me) seemed to unnerve the security guards. There were many apologies from clerk, security and store once I produced the receipt - I kept giggling (I couldn't stop) and said " It was just that kind of day." 

So how was your day?

First day of Work in Dubai

Ok, well it wasn't exactly work, but it was all related to work.

The schedule was: 0800 pick by bus, delivery to school, introductions, then off to medicals 0900 - 1300.  1300 - 1400 lunch at school, 1400 - 1600 presentation, 1600- 1800 bank to cash furniture allowance cheques.

Reality:

at pick up for 0800... no bus... several phone calls... bus pick up a bit after 0900.  direct to medicals.. dropped off at medicals to await individual from school with necessary paperwork....

eventually called for blood test, then a bit more waiting before being called for chest xray.  Medical finished at 1230

off to school for lunch.  Presentations cut short due to equipment malfunction. given to keys to my apartment as my bed had been located and moved to the apartment.

driven to bank number 1 - closed.  driven to bank number 2 closed.  driven to Dubai Mall, let off to wander the mall looking for a bank.  eventually found a bank and cashed furniture allowance cheque.

driven back to morning pick up location and dropped off.

Stopped in to my apartment for a quick look - bright  and sunny with LOTS of windows (kitchen 1 window, living room 3 windows and a glass door, bedroom glass patio door....)

back to my sponsor's apartment - Hooligan VERY vocal and pleased to see me...

Now for a shower and an early evening as tomorrow I will shift my luggage to my apartment.  I will also measure the living room so that I can order a sofa and chairs etc....

August 21 2012 one very long day!!!

August 21 was the date for my journey to the next stage of my adventure - Dubai.

Up and at it at 0430 - last minute bits and pieces, coffee and a yogurt.  Hooligan picked up at 0600 to start his journey - a drive to Seoul, a few hours at the Pet Travel Agency (Gina Nam at First Class Pet is amazing!) then off to Incheon International Airport for Quarantine Inspection and a few hours in the Live Cargo facilities, next a flight to Dubai.  He cleared Dubai Customs and agriculture quickly and was delivered to Motor City shortly there after (DKC rocks!!).

Hooligan spent the next 3 hours telling me in minute detail all about his journey (I didn't have the heart to tell him I wasn't as fluent in MEOW as he thinks I am)...

My journey was a bit different from Hooligan's.

I left my Korean apartment at 0645 for a 45 minute drive to the KTX station in Eonyang.  The Bakers helped my wrestle my 2 suitcases, 1 carry on and hand bag on to the train - they quickly hopped off before they had an unexpected trip to Seoul ( We had said our farewells just before the train pulled in to the station - it only stops for 5 minutes!).  The train departed at 0822 and it was a smooth 300km/h ride to Seoul arriving  at 1045.  A porter helped me wrestle my luggage to the AREX (airport express) platform and then on to the train departing Seoul station at 1130.

Arriving at Incheon International Platform at 1212 I wrestled my luggage to the elevator and then to an electric car which delivered me to the terminal building.

I proceeded directly to check in.  I was able to go straight to the counter - it took 45 minutes to check in my 60kg (limit of 25kg checked and 5kg carry on) of checked baggage (carry on baggage was happily 'over looked').  Thankfully the check in clerk only charged me for 10 kg and the rest sailed by (1 bag was 15kg, the other was 42kg).  There were concerns about my entry permit versus a visa in the passport which meant signing papers to the effect that if I was refused entry in Dubai it was not the airlines fault of expense....

Through security quickly and easily... to find out flight was delayed.  Departed Incheon 1 hour late, cutting my transit time in China in half.

Processing through Chinese transit immigration was an issue as my passport is old and well used (heavily wrinkled and full of stamps/visa) which made it SUSPICIOUS! Clearance took long enough that I raced to get to my gate.

The flight was delayed by 30 minutes with no explanation.  Then as we were to start boarding the buses to to take us to the plane it started to rain - and rain heavily.  The rain meant we could not be bused out to the plane AND that we might NOT take off at all.

EVENTUALLY, we were loaded on the plane (after walking 100ft through the deluge to the single set of stairs leading up to the aircraft).  We sat at the 'gate' for 3 hours before being given clearance to line up for the run way at which point the rain picked up again.  We sat in this purgatory for 40 minutes before being given clearance to take off - finally leaving china on to my final destination.

Arrival in Dubai was fairly smooth - an electric car to whisk my through the airport, a guide who whisked me through immigration (in the flight crew line!). Well, he was whisking me through until the official said "You can not enter."

Me, "Why not?"

Guide said something in Arabic to Immigration agent who had my Entry Permit, Passport and Boarding Card.  Immigration agent typed some more on the computer and voila! I was in.

Baggage claim, pick up by my school sponsor.  It is at this point I find out that the bed I order in April so I would have something in my empty apartment  to sleep on had not been delivered.  Correction, it had been delivered, but not to my apartment and no one knew where it was.

My school sponsor was pet sitting so I was graciously offered her apartment to sleep in and in the morning the hunt for the wayward furniture would begin.

Slept for a few hours and then Hooligan arrived....

Stage 1 of this new adventure has begun.

Less than 72 hours...

Today is my last Saturday in Ulsan, South Korea.  I am spending  it playing the ' I CAN make this all fit within my baggage allowance' game.  Hooligan is spending it getting a bit more freaked out as more of the apartment is empty...

Hooligan and I will not be traveling together.  My employer booked me on a 1 stopover flight on China Southern Airlines; Hooligan will fly direct with Emirates.  We both have long travel days coming up:

August 21, 2012

Hooligan:

Ulsan to Seoul 0600KST (2100 Aug 20 GMT) departure

Seoul to Dubai via Emirates EK323 departing 2305KST Aug 21 (1405GMT)

arrives 0425GST Aug 22 (0025GMT)

 travel time = 27 hours

Then several hours of customs and agriculture clearances....

Corleen:

Depart HFC Apartment 0700 (2200 Aug 20 GMT) by Car

Ulsan to Seoul KTX (Bullet Train) #114 departs 0822KST (2322 Aug 20 GMT)

arrives 1045KST (0145 Aug 21 GMT)

Seoul Staion to Incheon Airport AREX (airport express train) #2823 departs 1130KST (0230 GMT) arrives 1215KST (0315GMT)

Incheon Airport (Seoul) to Guanzhou CZ0338 departs 1415KST (0515GMT)

arrives 1710CT (0910GMT)

Guanzhou to Dubai CZ0383 departs 1940CT (1140GMT)

ARRIVES DUBAI 0005GST August 22 (2005 Aug 21GMT)

travel time = 22 hours

KST = Korean Standard Time

GMT = Greenwich Mean time = UST Universal Standard Time

GST = Gulf Standard Time

CT = China Time

Thankfully Hooligan has a travel agency in Dubai that will take care of his clearances and deliver him to my accommodations.

On my behalf the school has book a welcoming service to meet me just inside my arrivals gate and assist me through the airport, customs, immigration, and baggage.

I have also learned where I will be living.  I have attached a web sourced photo of the outside of the building.

Friday the 13th

So, this past Friday (July 13 2012) wasn't a great day.  Girl cat (aka Koshka) lost her battle with kidney disease.  She had a good last week but then ...

Boy cat (aka Hooligan) and I miss her.  The house is a bit odd without her around; Hooligan looks around for her, but realizes she isn't here after a few minutes looking (the joys of a 50m square apartment).

She was a wonderful girl and a clever kitty.  As a kitten she was "Koshka the brave" exploring any and every place she could find a way to / in to.

I know she is better now - where ever she is, but  it will take awhile to stop the instinctual call to her when she isn't beside H when I open the door....


Time heals...

Roller Coaster Month of June

June has definitely been a roller coaster month.

• last month of academic year for my current school which means:
• Scholastic Achievement Tests for Yr 5 - 9
• Marking the above tests
• Report card writing
• end of term for my university course
• writing and submitting final paper for the course
• waiting for marks
• final month of specialist AQ part 1 to my teaching certification
• start of specialist AQ part 2
• visa and movement issues / planning for August move

AND to top it all off the female cat (CRF/CKD cat) crashes and spends 2 weeks in hospital.  Roller Coaster is an appropriate description.  It wasn't one of those kiddie coasters either - rather it was one of the most intense, old style wooden track coasters you can imagine.  Thankfully June is coming to a close in a few days and things should get a bit better / easier.

• Tests have been administered and marked
• reports have been written and sent home
• paper has been submitted - still waiting on final confirmation of marks :-S
• AQ part 1 completed with A+ mark :-)
• AQ part 2 started and all resources have arrived :-)
• Visa and movement issues are ticking along all in the hands of my new employer
• Cat back from the hospital, blood levels as normal as they get for her, she is eating and drinking without a feeding tube. :-D

Now, off to a nice dinner out at a new spot with some friends. :-)))