Do you travel with your kids?

Do you dream of a life abroad, just you and your littles?

Meet Aerica Parson, a mom of two great kiddos who has made a new way and life for her beautiful family in the United Arab Emirates. A far cry from her Chicago roots, Aerica and Team Parson are living, loving and thriving in the deserts of Abu Dhabi. I was lucky enough to flag her down and ask her some questions about her family’s transition, current lifestyle and future endeavors.

Gabriella: Aerica, I am so excited about your family’s amazing journey to live in the UAE. Please tell us more specifically where you are living and what working in a school abroad is like.

Hi Gabby, I live with my two kids, Ariel (11) and Zion (10), in Abu Dhabi, which is the capitol of the United Arab Emirates. Teaching English, as a foreign language abroad, has been rewarding and challenging. As an educator, it has stretched me to be innovative in how I deliver instruction to my students and understanding their needs. I’m an experienced first grade teacher, now teaching Kg2!   Not in a million years, would I have ever believed, that I would teach Kindergarten. However, these amazing youngsters have stolen my heart.

Teaching abroad is not for the faint of heart! Yet, kids are still kids no matter what language they speak! You still must give them your whole heart! I still must consistently model positive classroom behaviors. I’m still responsible for crafting an engaging and innovative learning environment. My Arabic Medium Teacher (AMT) and I must work together to ensure classroom norms and expectations are clear and attainable. Sure, there are cultural norms you must learn, but these do not impede good practice. As an educator, this has been one of the greatest experiences of my life.

Gabriella: What were you doing before your move and what prompted you to take the plunge? 

Before moving to the UAE, I was teaching on the Westside of Chicago at Legacy Charter School. While I loved my students, I felt trapped. No matter how I tried to force myself to be happy, I wasn’t. I was almost 40 and nothing had gone the way I had expected. I didn’t know how to change and I didn’t know what to change. However, something had to change. I kept asking God to show me what to do because I didn’t want to teach my kids, this was all that there was to life: work, pay bills, squeeze time in with the kids, cook, clean, go to bed, pretend to sleep, repeat.

Then one day I was surfing Facebook and came across an article about a young mother that moved abroad with her 3 children. My whole soul opened up! I cried. I shouted! This was the sign I was waiting for. As I read her story, I knew if she could change her life with 3 babies in tow, I could change mine with two! Thus, began the process of looking for teaching jobs overseas.

Gabriella: How has the transition process been for you all? Specifically, have you made community and have the kids made good friends? 

The transition has been interesting. The first thing you notice is that life moves slower here than in the states. If you are from the southern states, this is nothing new, but for a Northern, city girl like myself, it has taken some getting used to.

We are a part of a large expat (and specifically, Black Expat) community, here in Abu Dhabi. My children attend a private, American-based school with kids from all over the world. My son plays on one of the local basketball teams and my daughter takes cooking lessons with other kids at Top Chef in Dubai.  I really like the kids they have built close relationships with.

I recently had the honor of joining the BEST sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., this past winter. My Sorors, have been AMAZING and welcomed my small tribe into their midst with open arms. There are always things to do with children here, which I love, so my kids and I lead a very rewarding and active life in the UAE.

Gabriella: Did you experience any culture shock when you arrived? Was there anything you encountered (good or challenging) that you were not expecting?

Culture Shock, yes! They don’t sell Vitner’s Hot Crunchy Curls!!!! But honestly, you can purchase almost anything here that you can purchase back home. You just have to find it and be willing to pay a little more for it. I didn’t know what to expect from living in the UAE but so far, so good!

Coming from a big city like Chicago, I was surprised by how safe it is to live here. My daughter left her new tablet in another Emirate. When I contacted the tour guide, he had it and delivered it to me in Dubai. I have left my purse, computer, etc., in my car, doors unlocked and guess what? It was still there when I came back. I’ve seen people find money and turn it in to security. I’ve left my own wallet in the grocery cart, while shopping in another aisle and it was still there. Does this mean that crime doesn’t happen? Certainly not, but it does mean that crime is not the norm here. This is a family rich environment. I am happy to be here with my kids.

Gabriella: What advice would you give to another momma looking to move abroad with her kids?

My main piece of advice is to do your own research! Do not rely solely on things people say in these online FB groups about life abroad in the area you are seeking. You must do your own due diligence.

Second, moving abroad is not an overnight decision, you must carefully plan each step to ensure a successful and smooth transition for your family.

Third, community matters. I believe it is important not to move abroad in isolation, even if you are bringing your husband, the kids, a cat and a dog. LOL… Building a strong network of people, in your new environment, that you can seek help, ask a question or just be yourself around is important to your emotional well-being, living so far away from what is familiar.

Lastly, for my single moms, make sure all your ducks are in order regarding your children. Protect yourself legally by making sure you have a judge’s stamp on any agreement you enter with the other parent. I foolishly didn’t.  It’s a long story and I won’t bore your readers with it. Let’s just say, my misplaced faith, in someone I knew to be untrustworthy, has cost me over $15K US dollars to resolve.

Gabriella: The school year has come to an end. What is next for your family?

What’s next? The U.S.A.! My kids and I are EXCITED to go home this summer. We miss our family tremendously! Marco Polo, Facebook and IMO have been life savers in keeping us connected with our family while we’ve been gone, but nothing like a real hug from your grandmama!

Secondly, we are proud to announce our new blog, Brown Kids Travel 2! Moving abroad has shown us there is an entire community of wanderers, that look just like us, blazing trails and living out their dreams traveling and living abroad. One of the main things I heard, when people learned we were moving to the Middle East was, “There are no black people there!”. That is not true! We are a thriving, multifaceted community, full of rich experiences and diverse perspectives. We are here and we are placing our mark on this world, one stamp at a time.

To learn more about our journey abroad, you can follow Aerica and Team Parson on Facebook , Instagram , and Tumblr or at their blog, Brown Kids Travel 2.

 

I am grateful for the opportunity to share Aerica’s story. If you are interested in being featured on Sisters Who Slay, here on The Slay at Home Mom blog, or wish to nominate someone, please send an email to me at theslayathomemom.com!

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