Happy Summer my blog followers!  To say that it has once again gotten hot in Dubai is an understatement.  I walked outside tonight and my skin actually got wet; not because of sweat, but because of the mix of air conditioning and the humidity here.  And at night, I mean 11.  So yeah, summer has arrived.  Can’t say that I am enjoying it, but here is one good thing about it: summer has returned to Europe and I can finally get exploring again there instead of staying in because it has been too darn cold. 

So a few things to catch you up on here.  First… I bought a car!  Yep, I got wheels in Dubai.  The world thinks I am such an amazing driver, that they have decided to give me a license in to countries.  I do, however, know a lot of people that would argue this decision.  I got a Hyundai Elantra and I love scooting myself around the city now.  I am starting to feel like a real resident now.  Here are a few things I have learned:

1: If you are driving in the left lane, GO FAST!

2: Flashing your lights at someone is more of a habit rather than an action.

3: Horns are loud, but easily avoidable.  After a while, you get immune to them.

4: Yes, it is acceptable to zoom past someone and then get right back in front of them, because apparently one car length on the highway is going to get you somewhere. 

5: Don’t flick off a local.  They have brakes… and they know how to use them in front of you!

I went home a few weeks ago for 10 days.  It’s always so nice to go back, but really, I am starting to feel like a foreigner on the Eastern Shore.  Like I don’t belong anymore.  I overhear people talking about going to Bingo at the Moose Lodge on Saturday night and Pork in the Park was a BIG DEAL that weekend.  Ok, yes, I went.  But I strictly bought a marshmallow shooter to bring back to Dubai to shoot at my passengers, and that’s it.  I also find myself much more aggressive on the road now.  Hence the whole driving in Dubai thing.  Like, I feel so powerful on 13 and 50 and the poor people driving around me must think…. Crazy PA driver! 

I made a trip to Shanghai; my first time there.  China just really doesn’t do anything for me.  I’m not impressed with it.  I would like to see the Great Wall and that’s it.  But here is something that is nice about it… the shopping!  Lots of knock offs and very cheap!  Like a kid in a candy store with all those purses around me.  I had lunch at KFC that day since it was the only decent place we could find.  The meat… questionable!  Remember the part of the world we are in?  Yeah, I didn’t eat it all. 

After Shanghai, I had some vacation time so I went to visit Cassandra in Paris for the weekend.  I somehow managed to get myself from the airport, to a city bus, into Paris, and walk through Champs Elysses with my luggage without getting lost, and made it to the hotel in one piece.  Remind you that everything is in French, because France is too good for English.  Successful?  I think so!  One of Cassandras friends, Lars, from Germany also came for the weekend so the three of us took on the city.  This was my first time there, so I tried to max it out.  Friday night we went to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle and take some pictures.  We walked around that area there and had dinner, bought a few things, and then called it a night.  Because Saturday morning, it was…. DISNEYLAND TIME!

My mom says that only her daughter would go to Paris and devote an entire day to Disneyland.  But you loyal readers, if you remember, one of my goals is to go to all the Disney’s in the world, so I am just working on the list.  And ahhhh, I love Paris Disney!  The first ride we hit was Space Mountain.  And by goly, shut the front door fool, it was out of this world.  Totally dark like the rest of them, but this one went much faster, upside down, sideways, and was pretty long.  Intense it was!  Then we hit the other regular rides, made a trip o Fantasy Land, spent some time catching up with Mickey, and headed over to the other park… Walt Disney Studios.  It’s pretty much like MGM with an Aerosmith Roller Coaster. 

We hit the park that morning at 9:55 for the 10:00 opening, and left at 10:45 that night.  Troopers!  And we didn’t stop the whole time, because no way was I coming to Disney ad missing something.  It was a perfect park day outside and couldn’t have asked to have spent it with a better person!

The next morning we got up and did a city open bus tour.  Beautiful outside once again and we took LOTS of pictures.  287 to be exact, I believe.  We went to Notre Dame, St. Michel, Champs Elysses, Eiffel Tower, etc.  That night we had dinner at Hard Rock, Cassandras favorite.  Cassandra had class the next day so we went back to the hotel and just hung out until we went to sleep. 

I woke up the next day at 8:20am to a sleeping Cassandra.  And then I realized she needed to be to class at 8:45.  Woops!  Hectic?  Yes!  But we said our goodbyes and she got there.  My plane didn’t leave Monday until 9:30 that night, so I had the entire day to entertain myself.  I did a bit of souvenir shopping and had breakfast in a little café, then took another bus tour on another route of the city.  I got to see the Moulin Rouge and some of the quieter areas of Paris.  By that late afternoon, it was time to get going to the airport so I made my way there and got myself back to Dubai.  J’Adore Paris <3  

This past week I have been studying like crazy for my tests for work.  Each year we have to take exams to renew our flying and medical licenses.  So I have kept myself pretty occupied with that, but I am happy to report that I passed and will be in the friendly skies for another year!  Woop woop!  And another note of good news…. We begin flying to Lisbon, Portugal on July 9 and guess what girl got chosen by her line manager to work the inaugural flight?  If you guessed Jessica Simpson, you are wrong.  But if you guessed me, then ding ding ding!  So exciting!!!

And oh yeah, did I mention that my grandmother called Emirates and demanded they start flying to DC?  Ok, maybe she didn’t exactly do that.  But she must have done something, because WE ARE FLYING TO DC STARTING SEPTEMBER 12!  Y’all better get ready, because you will be seeing this face a lot more around there.  I don’t know if that is fortunate or unfortunate.  You can be the judge of that.

My lovely people, I must retire now as tomorrow I depart for Rio De Janeiro and Buenos Aires for 5 days!  I will have Thursday-Sunday there, so I think it will be a pretty amazing weekend.  I will report back after and let you know how I survived! 

Ciao~Jessica