GIVE AWAY OUR POWER -contributed by Irileria Muhammad EMT Teacher in Abu Dhabi, Al Garbia

I am always amazed at how easily we give away our power as women. Granted, I have been there. God gave us the same brain, the same heart, the same voice, the same lungs, but we are so quick to subjugate ourselves to a man. I am not by any means saying the two are the same, but they are, INDEED, equal. The backseat, behind, under, outside of, the man is not where I will be. But I will still firmly and proudly by your side. We have incorporated chauvinism into religion, and then we repeat it. No wonder so many God-fearing women have self-esteem issues. We keep hearing philosophies that say you are the reason for man's downfall (Eve), you are why he is weak (Delilah), you bring out lustful desires (Jezebel). So in essence, what I get from that is that man is such a weak being and women must play up to his weaknesses and hide our essence as opposed to him stepping up and just being a man, and fighting himself. He must be protected and coddled, even at the expense of women. Well, if God tells you not to do something and a WOMAN says do it, and you follow the woman, be very clear, that YOU ARE THE PROBLEM, NOT the woman. And 2,000 years of backwards teaching does not change that.

Unfortunately, it is the undercurrent in MOST religions, religions sect, churches, etc.... And though I am in a country that has some very interesting male/female dynamics... I actually see WAAAAY more of this at home from a group that my friend Ebony so lovingly calls the "handmaiden club", and unfortunately too many women are in this group (knowingly or unknowingly).

Sometimes I am so glad that God lives in me.  I swear people often times push your buttons simply because things in their lives aren't going according to what they planned.  When they see someone running on the right track they automatically want to derail you just to make themselves feel better.  Unfortunately, there is no derailing this train.  I know what I signed up for and what I have been called to do.  I didn't have any preconceived notions about this experience so I am not going through the motions like some of the other people are out here.  I also know that sometimes you are placed in a position not because of prior experiences but because that is where God wants you to be to do the work He needs done.  It's your job to work with what He has given you and make the most of it.  Don't complain, throw temper tantrums, cry, bite people's heads off that are trying to help you, and act like you're ungrateful for this experience.  Embrace it.  You wouldn't be where you are if He didn't want you there.  Don't worry about what you are used to and what is comfortable and familiar to you.  We all have to make adjustments in life.  It's part of the growth process.  So put on your big girl draws and grow the heck up and stop acting like this gift isn't a blessing.  And if you can't do that, then you don't need to be here.  Hop your butt on the next flight out!! Stop trying to ruin everyone else's experience just cuz your are miserable!!!! 

Getting Meds in Madinat Zayed;"Same same!"

So we all know that I have been a diabetic for almost two years now.  My one concern prior to taking this job was the availability of my medication.  I didn't know if they would have all the various options that I had in the states.  I didn't know how much they would cost.  However, in my first phone interview those concerns were put to rest when I was informed that one of the biggest health issues here is diabetes because the people here love their sweets.  I know that they have a huge diabetes clinic in Abu Dhabi but where I live is almost two hours away.  I can only drive there on the weekends and it just isn't convenient.

Since being here I have gone to the pharmacy for allergy pills and ibuprofen.  Which would be typical except for the fact that you can get 800mg Ibuprofen over the counter without a prescription here.

I don't know why the word retard is on the box. lol the technical meaning is to hold back or prevent progress so maybe it means pain retard. 

I was surprised but at ease because at least I knew there were pain killers near by if I needed that strength.  I decided to take a stab at seeing how I would go about getting my diabetes meds refilled.  Granted they don't have the combination pill that I have been taking, but they do have Glucophage.

Can you see the box has braille writing on it.  Nice!

He made sure to say, "Same, same!"  It's similar to Metformin which I used to take when I was first diagnosed.  I walked in and showed the gentleman my prescription bottle and he gave me the box of 50 pills.  No prescription required.  When I asked how much it was, he said 14.50.  That's DHS not USD.  That works out to be about 3 or 4 dollars US.  I would have had to pay more in the US even with my copay.  I knew I would be saving money by making this huge transition but I didn't realize in how many different areas.  No complaints from me about having access to my medications at all.

Recognizing Grace and Mercy In A Foreign Land

The Beach Rotana Hotel

I have been in Abu Dhabi now for about a week, though it feels like forever.  It has definitely been a culture shock.  We arrived here during the week of Ramadan.  Because of the observance of the religious holiday, we were reminded not to eat or drink in public.  The hotel we are staying at placed curtains up to shield us during breakfast.  Everything shuts down during the day until 7pm.  From 7pm till 1am the place is alive.  We can eat in public from 7-1am.  So although we are not Muslim, we are participating in this month long fast.  It is definitely an experience that a lot of us will not take for granted or forget.   

It’s funny how I often find myself regurgitating things that I've heard my pastor say at church. He has been in my head the entire time that I have been here.  The agency that placed us has provided us with free accommodations.  We had no control over the location of our schools or housing.  Some people were placed in the city and others were placed as far as three or more hours away.  Since our housing has been revealed to us, I have heard nothing but complaining.  Some people were given brand new condos off a golf course in the city, and they were complaining.  The building is technically still under construction and isn’t scheduled for completion of all amenities until October.  Though some apartments need work, they are going to have a pool and gym at their reach when it is completed.  Others were placed out on Delma Island and they complained about their building having broken windows and graffiti.  They said it had garbage and other issues.  I was placed in Madinet Zayed, which is an up and coming city.  I have been given a two bedroom villa all to myself.  It’s about an hour and a half outside of Abu Dhabi, so I will have to get a car to get around.  Others have been placed in towns that are far more rural than mine.  They have complaints about their accommodations being three or more hours away, having no access to things like grocery stores without taking a drive, etc.

Outside Teacher Villas

Courtyard for teacher villas

On the day that we were taken to see our villas, one husband and wife had complaints about their place being too small.  I was thinking that it’s a two bedroom and it’s free, and I don’t have to share with a roommate.  Another girl saw the place they didn’t want and decided she wanted it, and was very abrasive and in the man’s face who was assigning our places.

Meanwhile, there was a guy who was unable to even look at his place because someone was still in there.  The person had fallen ill and was unable to move out.  So the gentleman assigning our places, Mahmoud, was about to move him into the place that the married couple didn’t want.  However, the boisterous young lady made such a big deal about wanting and liking their place, she managed to convince him to give it to her. Mind you, nothing was wrong with her assigned villa other than the fact that the       key wouldn’t work and they were going to have to change the locks.  I was truly disgusted by her behavior.  (keep in mind I am not giving you all the details of this woman’s behavior)

Guest Bathroom

Living Room

Guest Bedroom

Master Bedroom

Master Bathroom

Master Bathroom

My Kitchen

Balcony outside kitchen

            As we walked back to the bus I found myself talking to some of my colleagues about the behavior and attitude displayed.  I swear it was as if pastor jumped inside my body and started talking because I don’t know where my words came from.  However, I mentioned something about these people who are complaining about everything not knowing the difference between grace and mercy.  About them feeling somehow entitled to free luxury accommodations rather than being appreciative of simply having a roof over their heads that they didn’t do anything as yet to earn.  We have people complaining that their condos don’t have enough natural light.  I have never heard some of this mess before.  They took pictures of their places and were showing them around and I found myself asking if it was too much for them to pick up a mop and broom and get some cleaning supplies.  I think that if they wanted to move to another continent and expected it to be like what they had at home, then they should have found a job there.  These people are paying us tax free, giving us free places to live, and free medical.  They have paid for people to bring kids and spouses.  Now don’t get me wrong, some people have legitimate complaints about things that need to be fixed in their places.  However, they are being overshadowed by the random mess that could simply be avoided if people just humbled themselves, and realized the opportunity in which they have been blessed with.  Someone said that what I had said made much sense to them after a few minutes of thinking about it.  I credited pastor and said it was something I heard him speak about once.  She then told me that I was a good pupil. 

We haven’t found a church to attend as yet.  I have been singing praises of New Jerusalem House Of God and it's pastor, and now people are asking me why don’t I just have church.  Little do they know that when I told pastor about this job, he said, “Maybe you are supposed to take the word over there.” I told them that I didn’t want him to be right about this because I am not ready for all of that responsibility, but I realize it’s not about me being ready.  It’s about what I am being called to do.  I still don’t think I am at that place so I am hoping NJHOG can get the streaming going so that we can watch church on our computer at least.