Watch this space...

WTFalafel!?
Oh, son of a sweet potato, where do I start? Well, many of you have wondered in recent months what the heck is going on in the life of Marries. He’s not traveling the world (as much) and he’s quite quiet for a self-proclaimed Facebook addict.  Well, it’s finally time to explain it all.  Aren’t you happy?
I can’t even start to tell you about the stress and doors slamming in my face I went through the last few months. I’ve had to crawl out of deep dark holes and even pamper every little stomach ulcer that popped up along the way.
I have left the United Arab Emirates and will be moving to Egypt for the year. Thankfully Alexandria, so relax to all of you who just had a Cairo-attack now. Alexandria is on the coast and the people there are trying to rebuild the new Egypt. I will be working in a boys’ school and will also do teacher training.
Rewind
Let me take you a few months back. In March 2012, I had an interview with the local Education Department in the UAE. It was very successful and after my trip to Greece, I was told that I was chosen to work for them in the next academic year (starting September).  I didn’t hear a lot more, and since my contract was coming to an end, I applied for other jobs too. I had a total of 16 successful interviews. Everyone loved me, they loved the CV and they all had one thing in common:  “Don’t call us, we’ll call you.”  I also got a job in Abu Dhabi teaching at a good primary school and one in Dubai. They verbally agreed to take me. 
The wait
On 24 July this year, I flew back to South Africa and locked my car and apartment. At this stage, I had no contract whatsoever. The three weeks in South Africa was very stressful, especially as I was told I won’t be able to buy a house in SA as I don’t have enough debt.  Yup, you need debt to make debt. Wham! As the doors closed in my face, I remained positive and hoped for the best.
13 August
I packed my stuff to return to Abu Dhabi. Had to return my apartment and either store my furniture or sell it. Until this day, no contract came my way. Out of pure going-nutsness, I applied for the job in Egypt. I had the interview and was successful. They were extremely nice and I had a good feeling about the program. Still, I didn’t think I’d take it, as the Emirates was a country I was used to and ‘safer’ than Egypt at this stage.
14 August
I flew back to Abu Dhabi and came to a full apartment. I got two emails that day; one offering me a job ‘somewhere’ in the desert ‘sometime’ around October. Maybe. Everything in my being wasn’t happy with this. You can’t tell me where. You can’t tell me when?  The other email was from Egypt. I got the job and they were really excited. This is where I’ll stay. This is what I’ll do. This is how much. To the point. I was hoping to hear back from the Dubai job or the primary school job, but it was Eid holidays and no one answered phones or emails. 
The big pack
So I started advertising my furniture online. Thank goodness an angel from Canada came and almost bought 80% of my home. Next was the car. Kia Camel had to go. Numerous people came to see her and I finally sold her to a very nice Pakistani man.
Visa issues
I already had to fly to the Emirates on my own cost. When I decided to take the Egypt job, I went to the embassy and tried there. Nope. I can wait 4 weeks and maybe they can give me a visa, but they can’t promise. I was no longer a resident of the Emirates. Big sigh.  I informed the company and they told me they’d try and get hold of the school in Alexandria to apply for my working visa from there. They couldn’t get hold of the school as it was still holidays.  I had one option. Pay a one way ticket to South Africa and get my visa done there.
So I handed back my apartment and climbed on the next Emirates flight to South Africa. Another whopping R5500 to get back to Johannesburg. I went to the embassy on Monday morning and have the visa in my hand right now.
That word called Secrecy
I apologise to all of you who felt left in the dark. Because I didn’t know where my life was heading, I kept most of this quiet. I’ve got numerous friends who really care and it’s hard replying to a 100 people a day: “I still don’t have a job” or “I don’t know when.”   This is why I was quiet about all of this.
I am already missing the Emirates terribly and some people more than others.  ;)  I hope that this year in Egypt will be interesting and I hope for some job satisfaction. Egypt will also be the 58th country I’ve ever visited, so at least one more tick there. Thanks to all of you for all your support and encouragement. You know who you are.
I’ll be landing in Alexandria on Thursday.
Watch this space.
Marion.