De Plane De Plane... No Really, What to Expect When You De Plane

3 flights, 2 plane changes and a layover in Doha in the late evening hours, the plane touched down in Abu Dhabi. Sounds like the hard part is over right? And now all the fun begins. 

First you will either ride a shuttle or walk until you think you can't walk any further, there may be stairs involved. Please keep in mind you will be dragging a carry-on along with you. 

It is a bit fuzzy as to what happens in what order, so forgive me. 
You will stand in a line to have your eyes scanned and it isn't a big deal, but you can't wear contacts for it. 

 You will stand in a line to have your passport stamped. 

Someone from the company they have book the flights will meet you and give you your copy (temporary) of your work visa. 

They will ask you to meet outside to get on a "van" to travel to the hotel. 

I walked right outside, but many people took the time to visit the duty free shops. Honestly, I didn't even think about it. 
Decide what is best for you. 

When you approach the sliding doors to the front of the airport and toward the "bus', prepare yourself. 

Have you ever walked into a steam sauna fully dressed? You will soon. 

Then some guys will be loading your luggage, along with the luggage of a hundred or so others, into a huge open truck. They cause me to wonder how they can stand out in the heat, in the middle of the night and load a truck with heavy luggage. 

You will climb into a bus-like van vehicle with others who are going to the same hotel. The person who gave you your visa will probably also give you a name tag and it will have some way to communicate what hotel you will go to. 

Get to know you fellow teachers on the bus. Enjoy the ride.
When you get to the hotel, they will sweep you in, offer you a juice drink and will have your key to your room ready so you shouldn't have to really wait for anything. 

This might be a good place to say that the people here do not do "lines" or "waiting". Things are improving but most of the time, people will just crowd around and think they should be waited on next. Your first experience with this concept, or lack thereof, could be at the airport. 

When you unlock your room door, I hope it is as nice as when we arrived two years ago. If it is, you will want to take pictures. jump on the bed, and basically do the Happy Dance. 

Enjoy it while it lasts. 
Calm down til you can rest. If you aren't sleepy, then unpack and prepare to be in the room about 3 weeks. 

The first week will be like a vacation. 
The second week it will feel like a second home. 
The third week you will be ready to have a "real" home. 

or then again, you might not ever want to leave. 

If you can't sleep, Spinney's is a grocery shop, a bit pricey, but mostly Expat products, and they are open all night. Take a taxi and take a look around, use the atm and buy some snacks for the hotel. 

Tips: 
If you wear contacts, have your case and solution close, or wear your glasses.
My carry-on's are now backpacks or have a shoulder strap and/or wheels
Go to the restroom before the plane lands. 
Check with the front desk about internet usage and make a deal for it. 
If you need copies for any reason, ask the front desk before everyone else does. 
Ask them to empty your mini bar so you can use the fridge for other stuff, but remember it won't be cold enough to keep food good, will  just keep it cool. 
Most of the hotels will send a bucket of ice to your room for free. 

Finding a Case that Suits You

Probably just about everyone has a suitcase or a set of them for when they travel. When I first found out I would be packing my life in two bags and moving across the world, I didn't give much thought to cases I would use. That has since changed. 
Keep in mind that the case isn't going to just get you and your stuff here. You will need a suitcase when you go on holiday to all the wonderful places you will travel once you are here. You will want to take trinkets back to your home country for friends, family and possibly for when you leave the sandbox and return home. You will also need them to carry things back and forth when you travel home to visit. 

The weight of your suitcase takes away from the possible items inside you could be taking so make sure it is a lightweight bag. 
I prefer one with wheels and two are great, but 4 really rock. I am getting too old to lug a duffel bag, but I wish I still could. 

Storage is a commodity here. There is no hall closet to stash your suitcase here. They sit behind living room doors, on top of Wardrobes, in under bed storage or sit out in your spare room, or worse, your bedroom. 

Someone shared what they used for luggage and I think it is pretty darn near perfect. 

CWC 30 Inch Foldable Duffle Travel Bag By Coldwater Canyon

There is another one that REI carries, but it isn't as inexpensive. The nice thing about these is that they are easily replaceable. 

Finally, remember, you can bring two suitcases, 3 suitcases, or a shipping container full. It has to do with your comfort level. 
I am a gatherer. I like to live in a home that looks like a home, not a hotel room or a barracks. I came with three suitcases and I will leave at the end with two. (and maybe 6 dining chairs from Australia that I am not sure I can part with) 

I wish I had only brought two in the beginning. Now when I go home I take two home and bring back one. 

Please understand that you can adjust to life here and will wonder why you thought you couldn't live without something. 

Pack smarter that I did.