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About Me

I am a 35 year old Black Canadian Science Teacher.  Before I got my teaching degree I went to Japan and taught English with the Jet Program and loved it.  I decided that teaching was for me.  I came back to Canada got my teaching degree and started working at the high school I went to.  In April, I got a letter that said I would be laid off for 2013-2014 due to decreased students numbers.  Sadly, after teaching here for seven years, I would have to move on.  I asked myself what is it that I want to do in life.  I love travel and adventure.  I decided to apply to teach in the Middle East.  This blog is chronicling that experience.

44 comments:

  1. Seems like this journey for you was written in the stars!

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  2. Hello MissHaneefa. I have been following your blog for roughly a month, because I am also a female heading to Abu Dhabi! I currently reside in New York in the US, and waiting patiently for a e-ticket to start my new journey. I submitted my email to you so feel free to contact me. NubianSahara

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  3. Hello Haneefa. I just stumbled across your blog and I'm a newbie in Abu Dhabi (for about 4 months now) and also a Black girl, looking to meet other black girls here! Just wanted to say hi and hopefully connect in the future. I'm over at http://amirainabudhabi.com by the way. Have a safe arrival! I know you must me excited.

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  4. Hi Aneefa,

    Have you found an afro hairdresser by any chance?

    All the best

    Ax

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    1. Honey Cild Salon in Abu Dhabi does black hair as well as Moonlight. In Al Ain I have hear the is a place called nail salon.

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  5. Hi Haneefa!

    I'm a black girl as well looking to teach abroad this coming year, also stumbled across your site while doing some research. Wondering if you can share what the overall experience has been like. Also, as of yet if you plan on teaching there long-term.

    all the best,

    Chantilee

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    1. Hello Chantilee,
      Sorry I am getting back to you so late, I inly saw this now. The overall experience has been great. The teaching is nothing like and home and you have to put aside many teaching notions that you had at home if you want to email you can at Haneefa underscore c at Hotmail dot com and I can go into more details.
      I am thinking of staying three years but more is a possibility.

      Good luck,

      Haneefa

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  6. Hi Miss Haneefa

    I've been following your blog but haven't heard anything from you for a while and wanted to check that all is still ok with you, school and life in Abu Dhabi. I'm in the ADEC group to fly out in the next week or so. Many are leaving this weekend so I am hoping that I will get my ticket soon as well. Hope to hear from you and perhaps meet you when I eventually arrive.

    Yvonne

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    1. Hello Yvonne,
      I am so sorry that I haven't updated! I am still here and I have super busy I apologize. Please let me know when you arrive if I am in Abu Dhabi when you get here I would live to meet up with you! Good luck and have a safe flight here!

      Hope to see you soon,
      Haneefa

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    2. Hi Haneefa

      Sorry I didn't respond, didn't get notified of a reply and haven't visited this bit for a while. I have eventually arrived here in Abu Dhabi. Our group are staying in the Ibis Hotel Abu Dhabi Gate - a bit further out than hotels I've read about previously but well what can you do? Glad to hear that everything is ok with you, sad to hear about those that leave. Would love to find out more about that from you. Our orientation starts soon so I will hear more then - I imagine we will start teaching next week as it took a while for us to get here. God Bless. Yvonne

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    3. I am actually in Abu Dhabi in tomorrow maybe I can pass by your hotel and meet up for a bit?

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  7. Hey, I love this blog! I'm seriously thinking about applying, and I'm seriously scared. I'm a 33 year old black girl from the south. I've taught English for 9 years and I'm coaching new teachers now, but that contract is about to end in June. I'm nerrrrrrrvous to apply. Ideas, thoughts, suggestions?

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  8. Hey Jina,
    Thank you for reading my blog. I say just do it! What do you have to lose? You don't have to make a final decision until you are offered a contract. You only live once! Good luck and if you have any questions let me know!

    Cheers,
    Haneefa

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  9. Hello Haneefa,

    I am a Humanities Teacher in Brooklyn New York and I will be moving to Dubai in August. I know it's not Abu Dhabi. Can I possibly pick your brain? No more than two emails worth of conversation/questions. I promise. Let me know.

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    1. Hi Christine,
      You can email me as much as you like Haneefa underscore c at hotmail dot com. Hope to hear from you soon.

      Haneefa

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  10. I love reading your blog and just wanted to tell you how much I have enjoyed looking at your photographs, especially of the visit to your student's house. They are images that you don't normally see on tourist brochures and websites. What a rich life you are living. I am hoping to move to the UAE in August. I am just waiting on offers from 2 schools in Dubai.

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  11. Lissa, good luck and thank you for reading. The visit to the student's house was definitely one of the best days here!

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  12. Hi Haneefa, I came across ur blog cause I am moving to Abu Dhabi in a few days..and concerned about my afro hair. I lived in Doha (Qatar) for 3 years and I know how tough is to get a hairdresser that can handle our hair. If u can reccomend me a good one, i do appreciate it. As far as I know, I will be living near Marina Mall. Grettings from Brazil!

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    1. Hi! I don't know anyone here that handles natural hair. I usually get my hair braided every two months. I know that there is a hair salon in Abu Dhabi called Moonlight that many teachers go to.

      Good luck,
      Haneefa

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  13. Hi! I do relaxing on the roots, but generally I have a blow dry in the salon. When I lived in Qatar was hard to find someone who could blow dry my hair properly. Well, I guess Ill have to give a try. Inslahhh, Ill find a place I like. Congrats on the blog!

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  14. Hi Haneefa! Its been a pleasure reading your blog. Had some questions for you and was wondering if I could email you?

    Thanks!
    Malani

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  15. Hi! I am a fellow Montrealer, about to head off to Abu Dhabi for my first year. I have really enjoyed your blog; definitely the most useful of all the blogs I have found so far. I was hoping to pm you with some questions/maybe meet up in Mtl if you aren't too busy. If you don't mind you can email me at chelsieev@gmail.com!

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  16. Hi,
    loved your blog...just applied to teach in Abu Dhabi, and had a few concerns. I hope you don't mind asking a few questions. I'll email you.

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  18. Hi!!
    I love reading your blog and am interviewing at a private school in al ain and wanted to ask you a couple of questions and maybe see if you knew anything about the school. Would it be ok to email you?

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    1. I'll try my best to help you:

      Haneefa underscore c at hotmail dot com

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  19. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. Feel free to email me Haneefa underscore c at hotmail dot com.

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  20. I am a Software Consultant and will be coming to Abu Dhabi at the end of June to work with a client. I'll be there until the end of the year, possibly longer. I am so glad I found your blog because I can see it being very helpful with my transition. I'll reach out to you again soon.

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  22. Hi, I’ve been reading your posts and just wanted to share something? Please email me back. Thanks!

    Olivia
    1xoliviax1 gmail.com

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  23. Dear Haneefa,

    Thank you for writing this blog! I have been following it for almost a year now and I can tell you that you helped me out a lot (especially with plus size shopping tips)! I have been living in Abu Dhabi for more then 8 months now and was wondering if you could help me: I'm looking for a plus size winter coat as I made a crazy plan to go to London in December. Any tip??

    Kind regards,
    Mara

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  24. Dear Haneefa,

    Thank you for writing this blog! I have been following it for almost a year now and I can tell you that you helped me out a lot (especially with plus size shopping tips)! I have been living in Abu Dhabi for more then 8 months now and was wondering if you could help me: I'm looking for a plus size winter coat as I made a crazy plan to go to London in December. Any tip??

    Kind regards,
    Mara

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    1. Thank you so much for reading! So funny you ask this because I am going to Prague this December and I am also looking for a winter coat. I honk my best bet will be to order one from the States and have it send to a friend's shop and ship account. Forever21 has a few at good prices and so does Ashley Stewert. Also r in the UAE I am still looking. I don't know you size but when I was in Japan I bought a men's coat the first winter in the biggest size...good luck!

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  25. Hi Haneefa

    I just wanted to say THANKS for keeping such a detailed and updated blog! I've been toying around with teaching in the UAE but with your positive blog, I think I'll do it! Again, many thanks for your cheerful posts.

    -Meg

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    1. Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment!

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  26. Hey!!!

    I am really enjoying your blog. I just receieved my offer letter to teach this summer. I'm super excited but nervous because I don't know where to start. My papers have been authenticated and currently waiting on my visa. Would like to get in contact with you as I have so many questions, if that okay.

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    1. Hello just email me: haneefa underscore c at hotmail dot com.

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  27. I hope all is okay with you, as you have been MIA for some time. If you are simply done with your blog, that's a real shame...

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  28. I am currently applying to teach in Dubai and I'm thoroughly enjoying your account of your daily life. It is givng me the courage to give the hiring process a fair chance as I am terrified of change. Thank you!

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  29. I am currently applying to teach in Dubai and I'm thoroughly enjoying your account of your daily life. It is givng me the courage to give the hiring process a fair chance as I am terrified of change. Thank you!

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