There he is, my son, standing confidently on the brink of his middle school journey, waiting for the bus along our picturesque Vermont street on a beautiful morning. His smile radiates joy and self-assurance; he seems to be practically overflowing with excitement. There’s not a hint of anxiety on his face, despite the fact that he’s about to enter a new school without a familiar friend in sight. Not even the butterfly that momentarily landed on his head could distract him from this moment.
What’s the secret to his calm demeanor? A year spent in the Middle East.
Flashback to 2014: I was racing with David in a taxi on his first day at the American International School in Abu Dhabi, where the sweltering heat reached 120 degrees. As we navigated through the bustling streets, David sat quietly, contemplating his upcoming adventure. He was about to step through the gates of a vast private school that welcomed students from over 80 countries, including a classmate who happened to be the nephew of a Sheikh.
As I anxiously applied sunscreen to protect his delicate skin, I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders. Once inside those gates, he would be on his own. Would he find camaraderie, or would the school reflect the broader tensions of the region?
The reality was a mix of both. By the second day, David discovered that being American could be a double-edged sword. A fifth-grade student from Egypt confronted him, threatening violence simply because of his nationality. This moment marked a turning point for David; he understood that he needed to actively work to bridge the gap and change perceptions, so he even asked the vice principal not to punish the boy who had threatened him.
In late September, we moved into an apartment on Al Reem Island, and I started a new job at Khalifa University. David had to adjust to a new routine, catching the bus for his hour-long commute each morning. I enjoyed watching other children board their bright yellow buses for various international schools, waving goodbye as he climbed aboard bus No. 7 with a new friend from Jordan. But then, it struck me: his bus did not display the name of his school. Later that day, I received an alarming email from the U.S. Embassy regarding a threat against American teachers at international schools in the region.
My husband, who works as the director at Abu Dhabi’s New York Film Academy, and I weighed our options. Although we could leave for safety’s sake, we feared losing the chance to connect with people from diverse backgrounds. We chose to stay.
Tragedy struck on December 1 when an American teacher was murdered in a mall restroom not far from where David and I waited for his bus. The incident shocked the entire community, uniting residents in horror, regardless of their backgrounds. The government quickly apprehended the suspect and promised enhanced security measures.
Despite the fear, I continued to put my son on bus No. 7, trusting in the community and the safety protocols in place. When David turned 11 in the spring of 2015, we celebrated with friends from around the globe, including a boy from Syria. The stories of their families seeking refuge from conflict added depth to our understanding of the world.
Through it all, we made it through the school year. A kind driver named Amir became a lifeline, often picking David up after school events or playdates. I felt reassured knowing he was in good hands, thanks to a dear friend who connected us.
As we departed Abu Dhabi on June 12, Amir drove us to the airport. David read Arabic signs aloud, soaking in the last sights of the city. But it was on the bus to his American middle school in Vermont that I truly recognized the value of our experience in the Middle East.
In summary, my son’s year abroad equipped him with resilience and a broader worldview, preparing him for new challenges and friendships in middle school. Experiences like these remind us of the importance of understanding and embracing diversity, much like the insights available at Make a Mom. For anyone navigating fertility journeys, resources like Intracervical Insemination can offer invaluable guidance, and for new parents, March of Dimes serves as an excellent resource.