Onward and upward! To Arabia and the East!

From a certain point onward there is no longer any turning back. 
That is the point that must be reached.
-Franz Kafka

I received my visa and eticket yesterday. It's funny how anxious I felt before receiving it--checking my email every half a minute, pouring over the facebook pages to see who got theirs, and when, where, what time, and from whom. Leaving on the first flight wasn't exactly a priority for me (I thought it would be nice, but I still had plenty to do at home). And I knew with certainty the ticket would arrive in my inbox for me to marvel at. But still, I needed immediacy. To visibly see the golden ticket nestled inside an email for my eyes only. Then I could jump up and down and spread the news that Tammy got her gold and was rarin' to go. Well, almost. 

Still a couple of things to check off my list. 
I need to print off several copies of Aengus and my passports. 
Need to make passport photos for both of us. 
Need to sort and pack.
Pack and sort.

I did happen to call the Etihad office at London Heathrow to see if they would be willing to add a few more kilos to the baggage allowance for non-North American flyers. I was in such a state of bliss after receiving my ticket and visa that surely they would not refuse me. I even practiced before making the call. "Hello, 'Ahmad.' I will be flying from Heathrow with Etihad airways on the 5th of August, and I have a question about the baggage allowance..." Alas. Despite my reasoning, Etihad would not budge, and I will have to manage with the 23kg and 7kg carry-on. 

This news did not deflate me for long, however. I was soon bouncing along again from website to website, searching my options for VPNs and phones and ebooks and teacher stuff. Checking up on the other LTs to see if they got their gold, too. And, most of all, dreaming of Arabia and my future adventures in wonderland.

Checklists

Pre-departure.
Call Etihad--checked baggage limits √
Passport photos for me and Aengus
Multiple copies of passport detail page for me and Aengus
Register with STEP / FCO √
Medical tests Tb, Hep, Hiv
Prepare document folder for all important documents
   Passport √
   Visa √
   Passport photos
   Legalized documents √
   Copies of legalized documents √
   Original diploma, teaching and marriage certificates √
   Copies of diploma, TL, and marriage certificate
   Driving permit and license √
Register for VPN
Separate items into packing and shipping groups
Don't forget to pack in personal bag...
   Checkbooks √
   Documents
   Pouch with various cards and USB drives √
   Rasayana vitamins √
   Painkillers + travel bands
   Name and address label (inside and outside of bags)


Post-arrival.
Make copies of UAE entry stamp
Purchase phone plan with data.
Arrange to have my marriage certificate translated into Arabic.