Back to School

Finally.... here are some back to school photos. Sorry that they are so dark but I have yet to unpack my Canon camera (or any others for that matter) so I've been using my iPhone.

Terence and Mia's first day of school was last week on Wednesday / Mercredi, September 15th. Curt got up extra early to make delicious buttermilk pancakes while I got the 2 up, showered, dressed and ready. Ali stayed behind with our babysitter.




Since it was our first time to visit the school since the one time we were driven there in May, we followed our friends. I took a few snaps along the way in case I needed to look back and be reminded. However, it's very easy and I haven't had to refer back and have found it perfectly every time since on my own. Just for you to see what the route looks like from our current location in the Dubai Marina, check out these 3 photos.

Mia just before entering her building. Terence getting ready to enter his building (behind him). He was so embarrassed of the photos. Could you imagine if I had actually pulled out my massive Canon camera? At least the iPhone isn't so obvious.

While Curt took Terence into his classroom, I went with Mia to scout out hers. It took us a while but finally managed to find her lovely, bright classroom with her incredible teacher, Anne-Sophie.

She was given a cubby for her lunch box and other belongings.

She had a minute of embarrassment too.

Below is Terence and Mia waiting for school to start (can you believe the Clements family was actually early??) Ali was with us as we needed to go visit her teacher with Curt.

My big girl, Ali. On the bottom right is us waiting outside her classroom. There were a few other parents there, too, so we had to wait our turn to meet her lovely teacher, Anne, and her assistant, Benedicte. I think it was such a great idea for them to have us come one-on-one to meet, visit the classroom, get to know each other, ask questions and familiarize ourselves.

Then we had weekend so she had 2 days before her official first day. Yesterday was Ali's first day when she joined Mia and Terence. She handled it perfectly. Do you notice that they are sitting on their little lunch cooler boxes? Mia taught Ali to do this. They serve a dual purpose!

BIENVENUE! WELCOME! We were the first ones into her class. I think that made it a little less overwhelming as there will be 28 children in her Moyenne Section class with her!

What I've learned in Dubai so far

We are starting week 3 soon in Dubai and so far, so good. Honestly, I really enjoy it. I was so ready for a change. Even though I left part of my heart in Budapest, for several reasons (mostly just relating to the country and it's lack of advancements and improvements) we were ready to spread our wings and fly.

Luckily, we have a really adaptable family. We've always traveled frequently with our kids and since we are such a close family unit, we travel and settle well together.

Since we have been here, this is what we have done and what I have learned (in no particular order):

1. Arabic is written from right to left.
2. Arabic TV is boring (Curt always refers to it as Falcon hunting as this seems to be a popular sport televised on Arabic TV often).
3. The kids (and Curt and I, too) are loving fresh squeezed drinks and getting spoiled with them as they are offered everywhere.
4. I have not cooked much at all since we arrived as we are still in a temporary serviced apartment. However, it is still easy to get great fresh veggies, hummus, sushi, etc for healthy dinners and snacks. We have also had Papa Johns and Pizza Express pizza deliveries.
5. There are prayer rooms everywhere.
6. It has been over 40 degrees C every day since we've been here.
7. Driving here drives me crazy mostly because of the constant construction and lack of GPS capabilities.
8. It is incredibly diverse and international. I love hearing so many languages everywhere. The kids are tired of Curt and I constantly asking and / or trying to guess where people are from.
9. My three kids have all ended up with excellent teachers - all seem to fit their personalities really well. Terence has a young, male teacher and Mia and Ali both have very lovely, young female teachers.
10. The kids have already all made friends at school, which, I am sooo happy about.
11. I've signed all the kids up for activities but have only signed myself up for dragon boating. Still would like to find a good tennis league and resume golf again at some point. I have my tennis gear and golf shoes but the clubs are in our container (will arrive in about 2 more weeks or so).
12. I cannot find a proper Apple store but have found thousands of electronics stores selling Apple products.
13. I have only been in my bathing suit in the sun 1 day as we never have a spare moment! I thought I would have had a few lazy, poolside afternoons by now but will catch up on that when things start sliding into place.
14. We've changed our minds about neighborhoods 100 times. If we didn't have kids, I would so be living on the Palm. However, our kids wanted more of a community and now we are looking elsewhere. We hope to have signed on a rental property by the end of the week.
15. Curt shouts here just as much as he shouts in Budapest (it's usually customer service related).
16. Having a Friday, Saturday weekend is so confusing. I was on the phone with my US bank today and couldn't work out why they couldn't provide me with a normal business hour service. It was Sunday! A work day for me but not for others.
17. We bought a car today! A Toyota Sequoia so that is one step closer to settling in / down...
18. Our new car will have 2 built in cooler boxes - 1 in between the 2 front seats and 1 in between the middle seats. There is a 3rd row that seats 3.
19. Even though Curt may find certain things frustrating, he has been incredibly sociable in the pool, in the mall, everywhere. We are meeting so many people already and trying to increase the numbers of our upcoming house warming party! The list is growing!
20. We have been up to the top of the Burj Khalifa - the tallest building in the world - on the night before school started for Terence and Mia. We had made a promise to Terence to go up before school began. The lift took us to floor 124 in 60 seconds. Our ears popped and my knees wobbled while up there...
21. The kids have take a pack lunch every day in a cooler box with a ice freeze thing (you put in the freezer overnight and stick it in with their lunch / drinks so it keeps cold).
22. Terence and Mia are taking their first golf lesson tomorrow.
23. Ali is obsessed with swimming and has swam probably every day (except for today) since we have been here.
24. Mia made a good friend at school today who takes ice skating lessons indoors at the Dubai Mall (largest mall in the world).
25. I have never seen so many fancy cars - Bentleys, Rolls Royces, Ferraris, etc. Terence is learning them and pointing them out to me as I cannot tell the different usually.
26. I cannot get used to so many people (in the office, in stores) calling me Madame.
27. The kids said they are boring as they only speak 3 languages and most of their classmates in Dubai speak more than 3 languages!
28. We found a French tutor already. His first evening was today and it went better than I expected.
29. I drink more coffee here but from familiar chains like Starbucks and Costa Coffee.
30. The other day a Costa coffee attendant came up to my car while we were pumping our fuel. I was so excited to be able to multitask: fill up car and get an iced latte!
31. I'm really enjoying the longer opening hours of so many stores.
32. Mia went down the Leap of Faith - killer water slide - at the Atlantis' hotel's Aquaventure Park. I'm so impressed with my very brave 7 year old!
33. I miss our dogs (and cat) so much!

I promise to post the kids' back to school photos shortly....

Warmest Regards, the Clements Family in Dubai x o x o

We are in Dubai

Well, we have relocated. We arrived to Dubai on Thursday, Sept 2nd. It's day 2 in Dubai and I have 2 amazingly restful nights after 1 week of insomnia due to lists, packing and lots of responsibilities and very little free time. So, here we are! In Dubai!

Yesterday evening after our last afternoon swim, Ali asked me, "ma, how long will we stay in Dubai this time?" I smiled and thought carefully about how I'd answer her. Then, I figured I wouldn't sugar coat it so I answered, "Forever!" She smiled and shrieked "YEAH!" I guess that's a good reaction. I hope the novelty doesn't wear off too quickly. She maybe changing her tune after school starts (on September 15th).

So far, you can check out what I've written by clicking on my other blog here. I'll try maintaining both as best I can but until I manage to juggle my time a bit better, you'll have to make do with what I offer. All the best from the Clements family in Dubai, UAE!

Terence at 5 months

I love, love, love this photo! While packing up 1/2 our life to move it to Dubai, I came across it and had to scan it immediately and share with all of you. I know you, Nana, remember this well as it's one of your favorites too. It's the one that looks like he has a halo over his head. My little angel. Love, love, love it!!!


PS Packing is exhausting!!! Our house looks like a house and no longer a home as there is so much that has been packed up and taken away. Must take photos. Should have really taken befores and afters! All happened too quickly...

We are HOME!

We are back home in Budapest! This is what we looked like (yes, that is ALL our luggage) at Reagan National airport just before check in.

The trip was great fun and I'll post photos throughout the week. Today we are going to chill, unpack a bit and get ready for our trip to the vineyard tomorrow. Back on Sunday night.

Blackberry Picking

In Montgomery County over the weekend we had a fantastic time blackberry and blueberry picking with our friends Laura (and her 2 kids) and Margaret. Here are two photos just to give you a taste of our day:

Above: Curt on his Blackberry while blackberry picking... Isn't he one of a kind?!?!
Below is adorable (and fashionable) Mia. She begged us for these black boots. I mean begged, begged, begged us!!! She got them but nothing else and she loves them. How many girls do you see in August picking blackberries in their black boots? Good think the weather was only in the 80s....

St Michaels, Maryland

From Aug 10 - 13th we had a wonderful stay with Craig, Tammy and their 2 year old daughter, Olivia (oh, and their dog, Sophie). Like last year they rented a lovely house on the water in Neavitt - just outside of St Michaels, MD. This is a beautiful part of the east coast and a place our kids love due to the crabbing, kayaking, nature, swimming, etc.

Here are a few photos and videos from our recent visit.

Our hosts Craig and Tammy (above) and Olivia below.

Our trio love looking after and entertaining Olivia. Here is T and Mia enjoying looking after her while we walk to dinner through St. Michaels.

And some interesting sightings along the way.

Blue CRAB! It was labor intensive but worth it! T especially got into it this year. He also ordered wings (his newest favorite) and enjoyed my raw oysters. Ali had crab chowder and mozzarella sticks and Mia stuck to chicken fingers. Mia was so tired as she usually is the most willing to try different foods but sometimes the familiar comforts are what's needed.

On our dock

Kayak time.
I went every day with each kid and found it to be a great one-on-one time combined with a good work out. Paddling (usually alone) for over an hour was hard work.

Ali videos while we kayaked. Poor thing was so confused after we had changed cities so many times. She had no idea where we were...

Our Short Atlanta Visit

We spent 2 nights in Atlanta on our way from Charleston to Virginia (then Maryland). While we were there we stayed with our friends Stacy and Joe and their 3 grown kids (only one of the 3 live at home still while he is on summer break from U of Georgia). We had a great time in their unbelievably lovely home in Roswell, GA. Here are a few photos of our weekend.

Above is their trio with our trio.
Below is their lovely home.

Below is Stacy and Joe with their 3 kids.

Our kids loved their home - especially their piano.

I adored Stacy's decorating style. Most of it has been found from her flea market visits while sourcing for large clients such as Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware as well as many smaller stores around the US. If you are interested in buying from Stacy, you can find her through her company name Europe2You.

Farm Life

Apologies for being so out of touch but we are having way too much fun at the beach. We have lots of friends down here at the time so very little free time to get on the computer. I finally uploaded several great videos from our visit to Kansas City, KS. We visited a farm called Deanna Rose Farm in Overland Park. The kids had THE best time. It was very, very hot on the day that we went so it was quiet so we got to try many things in a short period of time. I too enjoyed myself. It was a beautiful, clean farm that was set up with so many fun activities for the kids (even fishing). There was lots for each of them to try. Check out the videos below:

Hula Hooping Island Fun

Mia won the hula (or is it hoola?) hooping contest on Kiawah Island. I had no idea she was so good! She can even do 2 at a time. In this video she was attempting 3 at a time. Love it! Especially since I was never a good hula hooper...

NASA Space Camp

Terence left Kiawah Island on Thursday with his dad, Curt, and his Papa, Harry. They flew out of Charleston airport via Charlotte to Huntsville, Alabama where they are attending a Parent / Child Space Camp program this weekend. Curt has sent me a few photos and T has called me several times so excited that he can barely catch his breath. He is completely in his element at NASA Space Camp where he is meeting real life astronauts, building and launching rockets, learning about space and engineering and studying (yes, studying on summer break!) about science. He is so happy that I think next year he may go for a week long sleep over camp with other kids his age. This weekend was a test to see if he'd really enjoy it and I cannot say I am surprised but I honestly thought that all the reading materials and class room studies would have turned him off... They did not!!!

They return tonight and I cannot wait to hear all about it!!

Boat Ride in Charleston

Two nights ago we enjoyed a high speed boat tour around Charleston and it's surrounding islands. It was so much fun. It was our group (Curt, me, the kids, Curt's sister and nephew) plus some other friends. Here are photos from our journey upon the Thriller boat.

Curt with Ali at the dock where we departed.

Our group on the boat.


2 sights. Morris Island Lighthouse and Fort Sumter.

Mia and T would love to drive the Thriller boat.

More of our group...