The flights were pleasant, and the airport in Doha is a spectacle all on its own. Unfortunately, my phone battery was already running low, so I had to save some charge to arrange an eSIM for my stay in Abu Dhabi. The service was quick, and a friendly Zimbabwean lady assisted me.

That’s when I started playing “spot the Emirati” in the sea of expats working at the airport—and later in the city.

More exciting sights and images will be coming, but many of you were asking about the accommodation, so here’s a brief video.
[IF the VIDEO WINDOW does not open below just follow this link: https://youtube.com/shorts/rYeFtAt-k9E]

When I arrived at the accommodation (see video in this report), I spent most of the day catching up on sleep I’d missed during the flights. I had arrived in the early hours of the morning, accompanied by a friendly fellow who, it turns out, will likely be my driver between the accommodation and the various campuses for teaching. (Also an expat.)

A power bank turned out to be a lifesaver—especially since, in a rare and oh-so-surprising twist, the charging station at international departures back in South Africa wasn’t working. Imagine that.

I was very glad I had exchanged some ZAR to local currency before leaving. Even though I had activated my bank card for overseas use, it ran into a hiccup that I’ll need to query tomorrow.

First travel tip: bring local cash. Two reasons:

1. You won’t have to scurry around looking for an ATM after an exhausting flight.
2. If your bank card has a glitch, you can still pay your way.

Things are different here, as I noticed from day one—and in a very good way. I’m genuinely looking forward to my stay and my time as a teacher over the next two years.