We had our midterm break in February and were delighted to have the Frumkin/Morales crew visit for just over a week. After winter break, we had been in and out of distance learning and were definitely ready for some rest and relaxation. In the new year, all schools in Abu Dhabi switched to a 4.5 day work week with every Friday wrapping up at 12:30. So Friday afternoon we headed out of Abu Dhabi to meet everyone in Fujairah- our first visit to this Emirate located on the Gulf of Oman. Our drive took us through desert and mountain terrain until we reached the shore. Our resort was located a short boat ride from “Snoopy Island,” named for the infamous cartoon pooch and home to some great snorkeling. The day we snorkeled the weather and water conditions didn’t cooperate and visibility wasn’t ideal, but we did manage to see turtles, lots of beautiful fish, urchins, and even a “Nemo” hiding in an anemone. Our resort boasted a shell-studded beach and a marvelous pool, complete with a swim-up bar and waterslide. We had good intentions to explore the emirate of Fujairah, but ended up spending most of our time relaxing on the beach while the cousins played in the sand and in the pool. The giant chessboard was a big hit too. Alden sharked a middle-aged Russian guy who had earlier cut us in the elevator line. We named him “Mo-kray” the Russian word for “wet” which was his excuse for why he and his kids (fresh from the pool) needed to cut the line. I think we all took a bit of delight watching his surprise as Alden schooled him.

After a few days at the beach, we headed to a private retreat in the desert of Sharjah for my birthday. On the way, we tried to do a hike but had trouble finding the trailhead. We did manage to find a quirky museum with some trails that we explored before heading to the retreat. We spent the evening enjoying the private pool and spa followed by a huge feast and smores by the campfire.

The next day we headed to Mleiha Archaeological Center where we had a tour of the small but impressive museum and the horse stables before embarking on a MOG tour. I wasn’t sure what a “MOG” was so googled it and found out that it is an “apocalypse-proof uber off-roader” produced by Mercedes Benz. We did some mild dune bashing (extreme enough for my tastes) and learned a bit about the history, fauna, and flora of the area.

On our way back to Abu Dhabi we checked out the buried village of Al Madam, a mysterious “ghost village” that local legend says was abandoned by villagers fleeing supernatural forces. We had our first “stuck in sand” moment with the car but managed to get ourselves out of it with a little cooperative push.

Back in Abu Dhabi, Israel and I took the kids to Warner Brothers while the original Frumkins explored Umm Al Emarat Park and Jubail Mangroves. We had a couple days of work teaching online while the rest of the family explored the city. Then we headed off to Dubai for another day at EXPO and some walking around in Dubai. Though we packed a lot into the week, the highlight was having the family reunited. Though the settings and experiences were new, it was the familiar- the shared meals and toasts, the cousin fun and feuds, the good-hearted debates, and the relaxing moments together- that brought the most joy.