Monday, October 31, 2011

My 28th "Happy Birthday"

Maria, a cute Spanish speaker in my class who is still learning English told me a few weeks ago: "You know miss Benedetta? Tomorrow I'll go to Juan's house for his Happy Birthday". A few days after, our new maid, Kumari, from Sri Lanka announced me: " Madame, on the 20th it's my Happy Birthday!!!".
I found their way of speaking extremely sweet and I realized that, no matter where you come from and what language you speak everybody expect their birthday to be special.

This year I wasn't quite sure about mine. I was afraid that being in Dubai for the first year without my family around nor the friends I have been celebrating with for the past 4 years in Tokyo, would have been a simple "Birthday" without "Happy".

I was wrong. On the night before, after a nice chit chat dinner with Femke (Thomas PE colleague), I went to Elizabeth's house to meet her cousin, Rob. Many friends were there and when it came up that my birthday was approaching in a few hours, I found myself blowing a candle on a date!!! LOL!!!
Perfect first birthday "cake" in the UAE, quite fitting!!!
 Alright, I confess...
before the date...we also had Tiramisu'!


The morning after, Wednesday 26th, I heard some noises coming from the kitchen while it was still dark.
Still too drowsy, I didn't realize what was going on...but at 6:10, 5 minutes before my usual alarm time, Thomas brought me breakfast in bed! Coffee, orange juice, "Pane e nutella" (bread and nutella), cereals and pain au chocolat! Yum yum! Simple ingredients to make the day starts just right! And I got my first present!!! On the flow of my recent main sport inclination, he got me a new complete tennis outfit: shoes, skirt and T-shirt! Now I will look like a serious player on the court...(until I start playing!) LOL!



My day at school has been filled with surprises and sweet presents. Weasy, the teacher I'm working with, gave me a coupon for a manicure and pedicure in a SPA, the children of our class came in with fancy gifts, flowers and soooo many sweet cards!!! I have been smiling and hugging all day.
The cutest thing was the book they made for me. Title: "All the reasons why we love Ms. Benedetta". Have a look and enjoy... I loved the way they drew me!!!









 
Fancy flowers from Yasmeen
 From Ryan
 Huge b-day card!



In the afternoon, just before going home, my swim team sang me a funny "happy birthday song" version (they are awesome swimmers, but pretty bad singers!!!). I thought the surprises were over for the day, I was happy, overwhelmed and even tired...but my super hero Thomas took me out for dinner.
He asked around for a recommended restaurant on the beach. We went to Barasti at the Meridien Hotel:

 Barasti by night

We took a few pictures there, but one of my little angels of my class accidentally touched my camera and deleted all the shots of my birthday :(

A lovely evening, in a very nice place! I couldn't ask more for the day...but there was even more waiting for me at home. I got a phone call from my dad on my mobile and as soon as we got back I skyped them.
My whole family was having dinner together, let's say, in my honor!:)
My little sister Bianca apparently made a delicious dinner for my aunt Vanna, my uncle Giampalo, my sister Beatrice, my dad Fabio and his wife Moira. Then, happened that my mom was around and she joined the fun as well. I was happy to hear that my divorced parents have been mature and wise enough to have dinner together. I'm not saying that it should happen everyday, I know it can get pretty awkward,   but I'm glad they're learning how to spend time together for the sake of the family.
It was my birthday and it has been a blessing to see the people I love all in the same room chatting and laughing over a good meal! At the end of our talks, I even blew my candle. A"virtual", one this time, on a Skype video call!!!
Overall, an absolutely special and pleasant 28th year celebration!
Thank you everybody! I love you, I miss you... and I always keep you in my heart...every step I take!








Saturday, October 22, 2011

Atlantis Bahamas 1996/ Dubai 2011



15 years after my first Atlantis experience, life takes be back to one of the most impressive resort hotel of the world. How privileged I was, at the age of 13, being in that paradise for a whole week with my mom and sisters? It was during the '96 Atlanta Olympic games. My dad was the head coach of the Italian national swim team and, that time, he took all of us with him. Before the official training started we all went to New York. I remember the excitement of that first family trip in the States. The feeling of being in a movie set, the urgency to find stores we could not find back home: gap, banana republic and the Disney store. The first time in a mall, the first time I've ever heard the word "mall", the amazed expressions of us, little girls, inside Fao Swarts, 5th avenue, the beautiful massive boutique of Ralph Lauren, having dinner at the top of a twisting skyscraper, going up the Empire State bldg., taking a picture on the top of the twin towers... 
After those fun days exploring THE city, we travelled down to Florida. A couple of days in insanely humid Faurt Lauderdale and just before the national team training started we left my dad at work and we flew to the Bahamas. Destination: Atlantis Paradise Island.
I was 13, Beatrice was 16 and Bianca was only 6. I had the best memories (although sometimes fuzzy) of that place. Our days spent at the beach, my mom constantly sunbathing on foreshore, constantly telling us not to swim too far from her. That thrill thinking that a great white sharks could have been just a few meters away...

And here I am, 15 years later back to the Atlantis hotel. But this time I'm on the other side of the world, in the heart of the fabulous Dubai Jumeirah palm and my mom and sisters have been replaced with my super duper hubby and a bunch of brand new friends. All new teacher at ASD.
Elizabeth, the new social studies HS teacher and the genius who organized this great trip, Jake, bio HS
teacher (I'll just say that after a few days the orientation in Dubai started I said to Thomas: "You know what? Io gli voglio gia' un po' bene!!!" literally something like "I already love him a bit!". Then we had Olga and Joe,  very nice couple we love to hang out with (respectively Russian and Canadian, Dance and PE HS teacher), Zully, Spanish/French MS teacher from Maracaibo - Venezuela (Yes, Italian people, Maracaibo really exists...is not just a song by Raffaella Carra'!!!) and Lorena, Mexican, elementary teacher and my personal Spanish tutor (I like to practice my poor Spanish with her!).

Well, this is the whole crew posing at the "sober" Atlantis lobby (everyone except Jake, who is taking the shot!)



And this is Jake!


Alright, enough with the silly photo editing and let's go back to the weekend...or well....
It wasn't really a weekend. It was a Monday and a Tuesday at the end of Ramadan, right before school started at the end of August.
We spent a first relaxing day between the beach (way too hot after a couple of morning hours) and the chilled swimming pool. A great party night (since it was still Ramadan the boys actuated their own drinking plan) and an even better second day at the spectacular water park!!!

This is the view from our suite

Dubai, the rest of the Jumeirah palm and the monorail is on the background


It's a hazy day and it's a common condition during the hottest time of the year.


Our bedroom :)



 
Many features of the room give my the chance to reminisce about the other, older, Caribbean  Atlantis I saw in the past! 

 
When lit up at night this arabesque building has an indescribable charm!


 Hello!!!


 
Yes, we know, life is really hard!





Sheik Thomas!

Olga and I!!!


 Let's pose!!!




 



 
Jake and I


 Sliding bathroom door....


 
coucou!

Another characteristic of Atlantis, either here or in the Bahamas: their astonishing aquariums! 

 
Every time it's just amazing to see all these sea creatures (although I prefer them in their natural habitat!) 





 Midnight Swim!


 
Awesome delicious room service breakfast!!!
THIS IS LIFE!!!!







 
Nemo and his friends...


 
Dory from "Finding Nemo"

 cute tiny fuzzy seahorse...


 
I knew I was a fish in my previous life! I didn't know I was   a grouper!