Reflections - Part 2

Let me begin by apologizing for all of the errors in yesterday's post (and prior ones, too).  Seriously, I should not touch the keyboard after midnight.

Contrary to popular belief, I do actually proofread these before publishing, reading them again and again, and I often make corrections after publication.  Too often though, I'm too close to them to see the blindingly obvious mistakes.

My sincere apologies.

Today:

I was moving slowly this morning.  Had a couple of errands I intended to run, but was not in a hurry.  At about 8:15, I received a call from my bank, saying that a card I ordered was ready for pick-up.  The lady noted that I needed to get there before noon.  I'm assuming they were closing early for the holiday.  Truth be told, I'm surprised they were open at all.

Anyway, I said all that to say my day started earlier than planned.

I needed to go by the post office to pick up my ID Card.  Did that, but was informed that I needed to go to Abu Dhabi to get it or wait another ten days for them to send it to Al Ain.  I opted to go get it, but decided to wait until Monday because I need to go to the ADEC Office in Abu Dhabi as well.  Kill two birds with one stone, kind of thing.

Ran a couple of more errands.  Got home and waited for the folks to deliver the broken chest mirror.  The guys came, opened up the new one to install, and it, too, was broken.  Will deliver again on Monday.  I called the store to ask if I couldn't have the one on display.  We know that one isn't broken and it's local.  Still waiting to hear from them.

I'm more than halfway through New Year's Eve.  It's after 4:00pm now.  As is my custom, I will be sleeping when the clock strikes midnight.  I can't remember the last time I saw the new year arrive.  I like sleeping way too much.  I also never liked going out on New Year's Eve.  Way too many crazies out and about then.  

Reflections:

Last year at this time, I had no earthly idea that the very near future would hold such an extraordinary transformation for me with this new job.  As I think back on the timeline - getting a verbal confirmation on Aug. 20th, the contract on October 20th and the ticket to depart on November 20th - I remember many frustrating days wondering if this would actually happen.  Because of the delay though, I had the chance to spend some really quality time with Frankie and his family.  (Being a grandma is a joy unspeakable).  Now that I'm here, I realized my arrival time was perfectly orchestrated.  I had weeks to become acclimated and explore the country before having to report to work.  Once on the job, I only worked four days before the winter break with three weeks off, which gave me more than enough time to shop and furnish my new home.  It would have been really stressful to try and do all of this while working.

So, even though the timing seemed off while I was waiting, it ended up being perfect.

Some of you might be in the same boat as I was, waiting for something to happen. Know that it will happen when its supposed to.  Don't fight it.  Just be content, knowing it is going to happen at a time that will result in the best possible outcome for you.

Whenever you're in doubt, remember my story.

Never in a million years did I think I would be retired at this time last year either. Considering my age, I hadn't been in the workforce long, so I never paid attention to the quarterly retirement statements.  I assumed I would be working in my former school district for the next hundred years.  This year retirement was possible because I reached the magic age of 55 with over ten years of service.  Interestingly, I applied to work in Kuwait last year and was disappointed when that didn't happen. Little did I know it was because there was something much better.  If I'd gotten that job, I would have requested, and probably would have been denied, a leave of absence from the Sacramento school system I was attached to.  This way, I made a clean break, with an added bonus of a monthly retirement salary.

When I think about all of you, my incredible family and friends, I know I couldn't have left Sacramento without your help and encouragement.  Thank you!

I'm honored that you're taking this ride with me.  I know I'm totally long-winded about nothing sometimes, so on the days you skip, it's all good.

When Frankie and I were Skyping a few days ago, I carried my laptop around my place so he could see it. This was prior to the pictures being published.  When he saw the curtains, he said, "This is what you spent so much time writing about?"  So, I realized then I may have overdone it on the curtains.  And probably on getting lost. And moving.  So thanks for hanging in there through all that.

As you recall, a dear friend reminded me to be thankful for my health.  Yes!  Yes! Yes!  Without good health, none of this would not be possible. Thankfully, I've been virtually migraine-free since arriving here.  More and more, I think my headaches were stress-related.  It's amazing the negative impact stress can have on our lives.

As we come to the final hours of 2011,  let us all be thankful for our many blessings. And there are many. Sometimes we struggle to remember them, but when we do, we are reminded of how good we really have it.

I was sharing with Frankie - too often, where you're born determines your lot in life.  I was referring to the young Philippine girls who are the custodians in my building. Young, beautiful girls.  Remember, they make $167 a month and they had to pay some agency to get them these jobs, pay their way here and will have to pay their way back if it doesn't work out.  How would their lives be different if they were born or raised some place else?  Would it be better?  Worse?  In what ways?  Or am I using the wrong measuring stick to determine what is success or not?  Maybe they are successful in the ways that matter most.  I don't know.

Enough philosophizing.

I look forward to 2012 with great anticipation.  Like you, I don't know what the future holds, but I'm excited about all the possibilities.

May this be the beginning of the best years of your life!

Happy New Year!

Jebel Hafeet and Wedding Bells

Lots to talk about today.  In the form of random thoughts.

Here goes:

I have to continue to look for a church.  Went back to the original one I visited, and struggled to stay for the whole sermon.  Too much of the message was "woe is me." I want to be uplifted and inspired, not condemned.  The search continues.

Quick update on the test package I sent to New York.  It did arrive in the US in two weeks, but got lost once it arrived there.  I'm hopeful it will show up at some point. Doesn't lead to a lot of confidence in the postal system in either country.

Christened my stove today by preparing my first meal on it.  Works like a champ. Even though it's small, my biggest pots could fit on it together - no problem.  Yes, it was good enough to eat.  Spaghetti.  Hard to mess that up.

Finished reading a book last night that I stayed up too late to complete.  I was not happy with the ending though.  All of that time invested, and you come to the end and . . .

When I unpacked everything, I found the electronic frame with all of Zadie's (my granddaughter) pictures.  It's incredible to see how much she's grown in a year's time.  I shouldn't be surprised though.  I remember pushing her father in a stroller like it was yesterday, and look at him now.  How time flies.

I went the local fast food joint, to ask if I could take some pictures of the hanging meat.  They agreed, and were flattered I think.

This is the sphere/rod that contains the packed meat used to make the shawerma.  In this case, chicken.    The guys packed the meat like this themselves.  They shave it and the shavings, along with pickles and a couple of french fries, wrapped in pita-life bread, make up the shawerma.  Thankfully, they let me photograph it and them.

You can't tell from this picture, but this one has a red tint.  It's the spicy one. 

Wrapped shawerma





Naked shawerma.  It tastes better than it looks.

I made it up the mountain that is in town.  Breathtaking views both going up and coming down.  I was planning on making the trek at night, but I'm so glad I went in daylight.  It was winding a lot.

On the way to Jebel Hafeet - the mountain.

View from lookout point.  

Another view from the lookout point.

View from lookout point 3

Finally, I went to the wedding.  It was more like the reception because you don't see the ceremony.

Here's how it went down.  Yesterday I contacted the only person I knew who could give me directions.  When  she didn't respond, I assumed I had missed it.

No problem.

While I was out and about today, I received a text from her asking that I contact her, which I did.  It was 6:00pm.  She asked me if I still wanted to go.  I said I did, but thought I missed it.  It didn't start until 8:30pm.  We agreed on a meeting place. When they arrived, I was the fourth and last car of the caravan.

The lead driver was driving like a wild person.  It took everything I had to keep up. The four cars going through at least a half dozen roundabouts was colorful.  Lots of honking going on.

When we arrived, it was a huge reception hall.  I could see the entrance from my car.  It was the one with only ladies.  That's right.  There were no men in the building.  Not until the grooms arrive, after the brides make their grand entrance.

When I walked up, the air was thick with the smell of incense.  Ladies were entering a makeshift foyer.  I had lost the folks I was following, so I entered alone.  No big deal.

Once I got past the initial thick air, I was greeted by someone with an ornate flask that had something like a dip stick in it.  The lady was touching folks with it.  She asked me if I wanted some.  I asked what was it and she replied, perfume.  So I got my dab of perform and arrived at the entrance.

From there I could see just how big the place was.  Must have seated several thousand.  The tables were set for a formal meal.  I found an empty seat at the back and proceeded to take it all in.

The ladies were milling about.  Most had on elaborate abayas.  Beautiful.  Others had on evening gowns.  Lots of sparkle.

I was surprised at the number of kids there.  And boy, the little girls looked like beauty contestants.  They were totally dolled up.

Some of the ladies from my school recognized me and came by to say hello.  The folks I lost earlier, came by, too.

By now there is incredibly loud, live music.  A woman is singing and two others are dancing.  They were wearing evening gowns and shaking their booties pretty good.  I was surprised at all of their gyrations.

I was invited to sit with several groups, but declined because I knew I wouldn't be there long.  Between the thick air and the throbbing music, I could feel a headache coming.

So, in essence, folks are invited to the reception, not the wedding.  Protocol dictated that no one leaves before the bride(s) arrive.  I did.  I'm told they make a grand entrance.  The stage is like one for a beauty pageant, with a runway.  The brides walk back and forth so everyone can see them.  Then they are seated on couches located on stage.  Finally, the groom(s) arrive.  I'm told you can tell they are on the way because all the women cover up.

No photography was allowed.

It is my understanding all weddings here are arranged.  Makes sense because at no time are women and men together, so there isn't an opportunity to get to know someone.  

This wedding was a double one with two brothers marrying two sisters.  I was told they're first cousins.  Not sure how accurate that last bit of info is though.

I lasted as long as I could, less than an hour.  I'm glad I went, but I'm also glad to be home.  I'm guessing the bride(s) wouldn't have arrived until about midnight.

That, my dear friends and family, is a wedding, Arabian style.

Spa Day

My lack of rest caught up with me today.


I dragged myself back to the ID lady, with no progress.  I asked her to call me when she knew something.  Interestingly, later today I received a text stating that my ID Card is ready for pick-up.  Right hand not knowing what the left is doing is a universal issue.

Next stop - Radiance Spa for Women.  I was overdue for another threading of my eyebrows and a pedicure.  This spa is located in the mall parking lot of the mall that is on the way and closest to my school.

It's lovely inside.  Beautifully decorated spaces.  There's the eyebrow/facial section, the mani/pedi section, the hair salon section, the waxing section and the massage section.  Everything is pink.  The walls, the accents, even the ornaments on the Christmas tree.  Reminded me of Mary Kay Cosmetics and the pink Cadillacs. Christmas music was piped in for all to enjoy.

The two women who serviced me were great.  In an hour and a half, I was presentable again.

I went in the mall to check out the shoes.  The only bogus info I received prior to arriving here was about shoes.  I was told sandals and open toe shoes were not allowed.  Flip flops for sure were banned.  As it turns out, sandals are very much allowed, along with open toe shoes, and flip flops are allowed, but discouraged.  So, I needed to pick up some sandals.  Thankfully, they have my favorite shoe store - Payless - with a darling salesman who aims to please.  Shopping here will be fun.

Left there, came straight home and took a long nap.

Woke up and watched some TV.  I increased my Western package to include every Western station available.  I just watched a Samuel L. Jackson movie and a couple of days ago I saw the George Clooney/Ryan Gosling movie, The Ides of March. Great one.  Highly recommended.  I'm a big Ryan Gosling fan since his tiny, but very good, role in Remember the Titans.  Later, one of my favorite movies of all time, Death at a Funeral, will be playing.  I have their version of TiVo, so I'm recording it.

Yesterday, when I got out of the Mission Impossible movie, I stopped by the restroom. To my utter surprise, there was a boy, about ten years old, who came out of one of the stalls, and washed his hands next to me.  I think he was with the young women who were also present.  Not sure why he didn't use the men's room that was next door. No one else seemed bothered by this.  Reminds me of some Italian friends whose son was still on the bottle at five years old.  Perfectly acceptable behavior in Rome twenty-five years ago.

Side note - I've been invited to a double wedding tomorrow.  My principal's two sons are marrying sisters.  The entire staff was invited to this joyous occasion.  I've just contacted someone to get the details - time and place.  If for no other reason, being there will be a window into the wedding culture, Arab style.

Side note 2 - The mall where I saw Mission Impossible, Al Ain Mall, has an ice skating rink, and a bowling alley, too.

Winter Wonderland at Al Ain Mall

Ice Skating at al Ain Mall

Side note 3 - Thanks to you who left positive comments about my new home.  I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

Mission Impossible

My intentions were to stay close to home today, and catch up on some much needed rest. Instead, I was out of the door early and gone most of the day.

There is an issue with my yet to arrive ID Card that required my having to visit the lady who was slow as molasses in creating some necessary document when I first arrived in Al Ain and I was trying to get my driver's license.  I waited about a half hour before she would deal with me and my issue because if she looked up my info, she would loose what she was working on.  Was there no way to save it?  Anyway, she needed to call someone, the line was busy, then they just didn't answer.  After waiting about an hour and a half, I got the verdict.  It seemed I already had an ID application in the works, from some form I completed while I was in Abu Dhabi.  You would think the system would have prevented me for even applying for another one, right?  Not so.  Of course, I didn't realize I was applying for the same document. Long story short, I told the lady I'd come back to find out what the solution will be. Otherwise, I'm sure I'd still be sitting in this office, waiting and waiting and waiting some more.  I went back at the end of the day, but it was locked tight.  Mañana.  Mañana.  Not sure what the Arabic version of this is.

When I left there I was starving, and noticed a Pizza Hut in the next block.  I stopped, ordered a personal size pizza and a salad.  This store had the same domed cover on the salad bar as the one in Abu Dhabi.  I'm convinced they have the best salad in the UAE.

This country is a desert and very little grows here besides palm dates.  So, everything - food staples, for sure - is imported.  As a result, fruits and vegetables are not always the best looking.  Meat either.  In fact, the raw chicken in the frozen sections oftentimes has a grey tint to it.  That can't be good.  The upside for me is that this is not something I would usually buy anyway, but still.

I'm surprised that I haven't seen frozen dinners since I've been in the country.  Since everything else is slow and methodical, there's no rush to make a quick dinner. These folks take their time cooking and eating.

Speaking of eating, there's a local version of fast food where they sells something that fascinates me.  In fact, I intended to go by tonight and ask them to take a picture of it.  I hope you're able to visualize it from my crude description.  The name of it is shawerma and it tastes great.

There are two spears hanging down, each with chicken that is packed tight.  It is layers and layers of boneless chicken.  This speared meat stands about three feet tall and is next to an open flame.  The cook turns the spear so that the meat cooks evenly.  Once done, he shaves off slices of meat and serves it on a pita-like bread.  It looks like a pita, but is coarser and stiffer.  He stuffs the meat in the bread, adds two or three french fries, pickles and garlic (which I ask him to omit).  He then twists the top so the ingredients don't fall out.  When completed, it's about the size of a hot dog.  It's very tasty.  The second spear holds chicken also, but it's the the red-tinted spicy version.  Haven't tried that yet.

I've only seen one drive thru eating establishment since I arrived in the country. Their version of a drive through is this - one of their workers stands outside and when someone drives up wanting food, they toot the horn and this guy takes their order and their money and returns with their food.  This scene just keeps repeating itself over and over again.

Later this afternoon, I went to the movies to see Mission Impossible 4:  Ghost Protocol.  Typical action movie.  Bad guys must be stopped.  Our guy is the only one to do it.  They fight.  Chase each other.  Fight some more.  Followed by an even faster, crazier chase.  On and on.  Not my cup of tea usually, but I wanted to see it because parts of it was filmed in Dubai.  It's worth the price of admission just for the view of the city.  Amazing aerial shots.

Did I mention it was in English?  Normally it takes a minute for a new movie to be released here, but I'm guessing because of the great publicity for the city and the country, it opened the same day here as in the states.  Of course, this is all speculation on my part.

Next, I stopped by Bath and Body Works because this mall is the only one that features this store.  I stocked up on the sweet smelling stuff and headed back home.

Before I left home though, I took pictures of the place and realized that it has a close resemblance to a brothel.  In fact, the only thing missing is a neon sign.  I've got the perfect spot for it, too.  I noticed several stores that sell beaded room dividers, so some red beads would be easy to get, too.

Of course, it was not my intention to create that kind of dwelling, but the strong resemblance is undeniable.

You decide.  (The pictures are in the order you would see things if you were walking through the apartment).

Guest Bath - 1st thing on your left when you walk in

Entryway - Bowl for keys/cabinet for purse

Kitchen

Kitchen 2

Kitchen 3

Cute Little Stove (Cooker)

Washer/Dryer Combo - Works great!

Dining Room contains sofa bed and desk.  This room was supposed to be the Living Room, but it's not well-lit.  Window faces a wall.

Coffee Urn & Serving Cart = Unique to this country and variations of it can be found in every office.

Sofa Bed

         Desk

Master Bedroom

Infamous Curtains - Yes, they're red.

Closet - sits next to wall

Living Room - Was supposed to be Master Bedroom, but the lighting in here is wonderful, so I made the switch.

Living Room 2

This concludes the tour folks.  What do you think?  Brothel, right?  

No, it's just home.  

Good to Go

I came close to skipping this tonight.  I've had two very late nights and need to get some serious sleep, but it's only 6:30pm.  If I go to bed now, I'll be up for the day at 2:00am.  So, I'm going to hang tough for a couple more hours.

Thankfully, every "i" has been dotted and every "t" crossed relative to my new place.  It's just the way I want it.  I did the last of the running around for it today, and now I can sit back and relax for the rest of the break.  Yeah!!!

Side note - When someone asks what your name is, they ask, "What is your "good name?"  It took me a minute to figure out that they simply wanted to know my name.

Side note 2 - Parking is on the street, but when everyone returns from break, we'll have to park in our assigned spots, in an underground parking structure.  I love it down there.  It's well lit and they're elevators close by.  Also, when I'm parked there, no one knows if I'm home.  I know.  I know.  I just really like my space and enjoy my solitude.

Side note 3 - There is 24-hour security here, too.  One person sits at the front gate, and another at the back.  They recognize me and my car.  Friendly guys.

Speaking of security - you see them everywhere.  I know I've mentioned this before, but it bears repeating. They are in the corridors of every mall.  In the stores. Outside.  Everywhere.  Again, is crime so low because of their presence, or are they that good at keeping a handle on it?  Don't know, but glad about the results nonetheless.

Side note 4 - Interestingly, I know of at least one teacher hired by Teach Away to teach here that has no experience in the classroom.  Zilch.  None.  I think that's crazy.  You need to walk in the door with some skills.  On the job training would be tough because you're trying to figure out what you're doing and you're trying to make sense of the culture.  Not a smart move.

Side note 5 - Still experimenting with making calls back home.  Google chat works well and I'm grateful for it.  The downside is you're using your computer as the vehicle and it's not as portable as a phone.  I purchased MagicJack before I left the States, which allows you to use your phone, and just tried it yesterday to pretty awful results.  Not sure if it was MagicJack or a weak connection.  Tyrone (my router) and I had a conversation about that and he seems to be working just fine now.

Ok.  My brain is fried.

Hope you're still enjoying your holidays.

More soon.  God willing, as my Arab brothers say.

Round and Round the Roundabouts

Bird Roundabout - Official Name = Baladiya Roundabout

It's 9:15 in the evening, and the sound of drilling is filling my new home.  I waited all day for delivery of my furniture. They arrived two hours past the 10:00-5:00 window.  That's OK cause they're here now.

Here's the kicker though, all of the stuff came in flat boxes!  My rationale for choosing this store instead of Ikea was the fact that the things would be assembled and ready to go.  Is this the reason it was such a good deal?

Anyway, there are three guys hard at work.  I felt guilty about inquiring where they were and satisfied my conscious by buying them a bite to eat.  Besides, I figured they would concentrate better on the job at hand, if they weren't starving.

The pictures of my place will have to wait, but I have a treat for you - pictures of some of the roundabouts (R/A) this city is known for.  I've tried taking pictures while driving around them.  Not the best idea. Thankfully someone far better at this sort of thing than me, took great pictures and posted them on the web.  Below are a select few.  Enjoy!

The official name of this one is the Castle Roundabout.  All I know is I was always a happy soul when I spotted it cause that meant I had almost made it to the hotel.

Castle R/A (I called this one the Fort R/A)

Another view of the Fort R/A

Globe R/A

Close-Up of Globe

Another Close-Up of Globe

Mandoos R/A - Haven't seen this one yet

Coffe R/A?

Sheikh Zayed R/A

close-Up of Sheikh Zayed R/A

Sheikh Mubarak R/A

This one is unique because there's traffic beneath it

Waterfall R/A

Another view of Waterfall R/A

Side note - My doorbell rang at about 9:45.  I thought it was my homesick friend. Not so.  It was the adjacent neighbor on the other side of me.  He came by to complain about the noise.  No hello.  No introductions.  Just complaining.  Said his wife was in bed.  He would have gotten more sympathy if he said he had a baby trying to sleep.  Did he really think I wanted these guys here at that time of night? What was I supposed to do?  Send them away and ask them to return tomorrow? Not off to the best start with this fellow.  

Returning to my zen state of mind now.  Deep breaths.

Side note 2 - The guys did an incredible job of getting everything together in less than three hours.  Amazing!  It looks fantastic in here, if I must say so myself.  A mirror was broken that will be replaced in a couple of days.  Other than that, I'm good to go.

Side note 3 - I bought a drill today.  You think it's too late to drill baby drill?

I will be a good neighbor.

I will be a good neighbor.

I will be a good neighbor.

Thanks again for hanging with me for a while.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours!  I hope that your day is filled with peace and happiness.

My day is coming to an end and it was wonderful.

Last night when I returned to the hotel, I decided that was my last night there.  So, I closed my suitcases, stuffed the things I had been using on a daily basis in plastic bags, and sat it all by the door.  It felt great.  I woke up really early, and fell back asleep for a couple of hours, but when I did get up, I was on a mission to get out of the hotel as soon as possible.

Thankfully, everything fit in the car, so I only had to make one trip.  I called the front office to let them know I'd be checking out, stopped by there and signed some paperwork, and off to my new place - for good - I went.

When I arrived, I stored everything in one of the spare bathrooms, to eliminate a cluttered look.  (Cathy and Deb, I know you're shaking your head at my concern with clutter).  Then I ran a couple of errands.  While I was out the delivery guy called, a half hour early, saying he was on the way.  I rushed back, but he still beat me here by a few minutes.

There were three men who bought in and set up the living room set and sofa bed.  I love this stuff!  Then my quiet gentle friend and a helper, spent the next couple of hours hanging things on the wall.  The walls are made of a really solid, almost concrete-link substance that makes them really hard to work with.  But when they finished, it looked so nice.  Kind of reminds me of when a new home or business goes up and they complete the look with beautiful landscaping.  If you didn't know better, you would think the home or business had been up all along because the landscaping does a great job of making the structures look and feel "complete." That's would the wall art does here.  It makes it looked homey, lived in and complete.

The sofa bed is very much like the one I had the pleasure of sleeping on when I visited Frankie and his family.  The back is up for a sofa and down for the bed.  It was very comfortable and so is this one.  This is where I'll be laying my head tonight.

Today was business as usual in the stores and malls.  Lots of traffic.  Lots of sales.

Side note - A fair number of the labor force comes from the Philippines.  In fact, the hotels I've been in have been serviced exclusively by folks from the Philippines. Interestingly, it was young men who cleaned the rooms, not women as we're accustomed to.  Anyway, I said all that to say, this community of folks are mostly Christian and they do celebrate Christmas.  One of the Philippine salesman was lamenting yesterday that he had to work today.

I'm so excited to finish up in my new home, so that I can get back to exploring the country again.

The mountain that is in town has a road that runs up and down it, that is beautifully lit at night.  I'm told I can take this road to get to work.  Not sure I want to do that, but I definitely want to make the drive up.  Hopefully it won't be as scary as parts of the 101 on the West Coast.

Well, you all are probably waking up now, so I'm going to close so that I can make some holiday calls.

Merry Christmas!

Taking Care of Business on Christmas Eve

It was all about the checklist today.  Making sure I got as many things done as possible.  Thankfully, it was very productive.

It's Christmas Eve, but it doesn't feel like it at all.  I don't have any decorations up, no tree.  Nothing that indicates this is the holiday season.  Those of you who know me well, know that I just threw a sheet over my little three-foot tree with the lights and ornaments still on, and each year took the sheet off and it was good to go. Instant decorations!  That tree was sold or given away in the garage sale.  Wasn't in the mood to replace it.  I'm not in the holiday frame of mind, I guess.  Reminds me of when I've spent Christmas in Miami.  It never quite felt like Christmas because it was hot and folks were in shorts and flip flops.  Somehow, in my mind, it needs to be chilly, cold even.

Of course the holiday is not about the weather, but still, it sets the tone for the season, I think.

Last Christmas I was alone.  By choice.  In retrospect, it was great preparation for this year.

Tomorrow - yes on Christmas Day - I take delivery of my living room set and sofa bed.  My bottom will appreciate the softness of the sofa after spending so much time sitting on the floor.

Side note - Did I mention that the stores and businesses are laid out in clusters? For example, all of the jewelry stores are in the same part of town, next door to each other.  The cell phone stores, banks, specialty stores, etc.  It is an interesting concept if you want to shop around.  This makes it easy.  Typically, they all carry about the same merchandise, so I suppose it comes down to who you like dealing with the best.

Side note 2 - Just tried hanging something on the wall.  Made a bit of a mess, so I called for help.  The walls are made of something that is not user friendly for hanging things.  One of the men who hung my drapes will come by tomorrow.  He reminds me so much of the Native American character, Chief, in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.  He's a gentle soul.  Rarely speaks, although my little homesick teacher speaks his language, and they had a spirited conversation.  He has a warm smile and kind eyes.  I always wonder what he's thinking.  I don't think he's treated well by the foreman, so I hired him directly, to bypass the foreman.  Although, as I mentioned earlier, this foreman is like the office manager or plant manager on a school campus.  You want to always be on their good side because in many ways, they run the place.

Side note 3 - I may christen my sofa by sleeping on it tomorrow night.  I am so ready to unpack my bags for good, I may move out of the hotel tomorrow instead of Monday.  I know what you're thinking.  One more day won't make that much of a difference, and you're right.  It would do wonders for my spirit and frame of mine though.  It will be a game day decision.

Side note 4 - I have Western TV!  Yeah!  So far I've seen CNN International, Style, MTV and VH1, and TMC (classic movies).  There's more, I just have to figure out where to find them.  A program guide would be helpful.  I'm told I can find one online. Assumed I would only be getting Western channels.  Not so.  They are interspersed with many Arabic ones.

Side note 5 - My stove (cooker, as it's called here) was delivered today.  Just after it arrived, I was headed to the office to let them know I needed the gas turned on when the guy in charge of the gas was walking toward me leaving flyers on doors and stopped to give me a sales pitch on the wonders of gas appliances.  So, we walked back to my place and my gas was installed, right then and there.  I was the first tenant to get the gas hook-up.  I don't know what folks, who moved in months ago, were doing for cooking.  Anyway, I'm all set to cook, whenever the mood hits me. Won't be regularly, I'm sure.  I was disappointed to discover that the dishes I bought are not microwavable.  Sparks fly when I heated something up.  My china, that I bought as I was leaving college, was also not microwaveable, but that was a hundred years ago.  I just assumed they resolved the issue of sparks flying when they're trimmed in silver.  Guess not.  My choice is to try and sell them, although I already threw the box away that they came in, or figure out a way to make it work. I'm leaning toward the latter.

Side note 6 - Exchanging things that you're purchased happens, but reluctantly. Seriously, they want blood to take something back, and then you don't get cash, only a store credit.  So, you need to be sure of your purchases because chances are, they're going to remain yours whether you like it or not.  Remember this when you go to return or exchange all of those Christmas gifts.

On that note, I'll close!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Everyone!

Ethiopian Church

My day began with a marvelous experience in an Ethiopian Church.

The church where I was headed is housed in a building attached to a hospital. There are at least three different rooms and three different congregations that are having church simultaneously.  I was headed to the church I went to last week, but accidentally walked in the Ethiopian Church.  Immediately I felt welcome, but figured the language would be a barrier.  A lovely usher guided me to a seat about midway up the aisle, and then asked if I was looking for the English church.  I said I was, but really loved what I was feeling here.

So, rather reluctantly, I followed her to the right door and entered the other church.  I saw my South African teacher, and sat down in preparation for the service to start. But something was drawing to the Ethiopian Church.  There was a freedom of worship that I knew wouldn't be evident in this one, so I ditched the English church and went to the Ethiopian one.

It was a small sanctuary.  Seated about 100 folks.  Most were women.  There were about a dozen men.  Three of the men were church leaders - leading in song, making announcements and introductions and the main speaker.  I think the man who spoke was a guest speaker.  This gathering is the most black folk that I've seen in the UAE.

The resemblances that some of the folks had to people I know was uncanny.  The speaker had a striking resemblance to Beau Williams, the gospel singer.  One of the women looked like Betty, my best friend from home.  Another guy looked just like Steve, Mrs. B's son.  It was uncanny how I could see so many folks from my world in the faces of this congregation.

They were speaking a language I couldn't understand, but every now and then I recognized them saying Jesus (pronounced like the Hispanics with an "H" sound), Alleluia and Amen.  Many years ago I remember someone said that Alleluia was universal, recognized in every language.

They were singing/chanting/humming a beautiful song - everyone in motion, not simultaneous motion - but moving to their own rhythm.  They didn't care what the person next to them or around them was saying or doing, they were in their own world of worship.

Again, I could not understand them, and yet I continued to be drawn into the service, mesmerized by their freedom of praise.

They transitioned to another song with a faster rhythm, with everyone clapping along, but they weren't clapping when you would expect them to, in sync with the drums.  And yet, this song, too, was beautiful.

After the singing, there was announcement, I think, then the introduction of the speaker.  If he was their Pastor, he wouldn't have been introduced, I don't think. Anyway, I loved this guy.  I couldn't understand what he was saying, but the cadence of the message was familiar.  He was very soft spoken, then he'd get loud, he'd tell a joke, then whisper, and back to a normal tone.  He used call and response, a lot.  He had the people in the palm of his hands.

What was evident to me today, is that charm is universal, too.  This man was charismatic, engaging and charming.  I thought so and couldn't understand what he was saying.  I can't imagine how so much more powerful it was for the folks following along with him.

I continued to listen intently.  He spoke about 45 minutes, when he abruptly stopped, and everyone booked out of there.  You would have thought it was a fire. They were probably making way for another service.  We all moved outside to a common breezeway where the other congregants from the English church were milling about.  The folks from the Ethiopian church moved to another building, maybe a fellowship hall.  I didn't go because I had promised to give a ride to a friend and her young girls and they were ready to go.

Next time I'll go see what happens next with the Ethiopians.  It was an incredible experience that I would enjoy again.

Side note - Respectfully, I saw more women with booties today, than any other time since I've been here.  Very shapely women.  Jennifer Lopez would have felt right at home.

Side note 2 - My VP friend that I took home lives in a fabulous villa.  It's a two-home compound across the sheet from the Emirati who owns the property.  It is a magnificent home.  Eight bedrooms, and four full baths.  Maid quarters.  Marble everywhere.  Light fixtures that sparkle.  It was absolutely gorgeous!  It is located in a fabulous residential area, where the homes make the McMansions in the US look like miniature doll houses.  These homes were massive!  HUGE!  All surrounded by fort-like fences, but enough gates were open to see many of the homes and go WOW!

Side note 3 - A Maybach passed me on the road today.  It was one of the cars featured in Sex and City 2, which was filmed on location in Abu Dhabi.

Side note 4 - It is an impressive sight seeing men of all nationalities trekking to the mosques for services.  They come from all corners of the area, heading to the nearest mosque.  You can hear the call to prayer all over this city, too.

Side note 5 - Some men wear skirts.  They look Indian or maybe from Bangladesh.  I haven't seen any work in skirts, but rather you see them when they're lounging around out front of their building or going to the corner market.

Side note 6 - This is definitely a hierarchical society headed by the Emirati.  Everyone seems to know who's in charge.  There's not the parting of the sea, but almost, when an Emirati shows up.

Fascinating place.

More soon.

Things I Like

I'll get to the things I like in a minute, but first let me touch on something I don't like. I promise I will keep a positive attitude throughout, but I just have to say this - I don't like milk.  Never have.  I'm lactose intolerant, so the fact that I'm not fond of it is OK.  However, since arriving here, I've had a taste for it on cereal, especially at night.  But here's what happened:  Twice.  TWICE.  I poured milk on a bowl of cereal to discover as I was pouring it that it wasn't skim milk, but buttermilk!  YUCK! SUPER YUCK!  Note to self - pay attention to the labels.  Funny thing, if this had happened when I first got here, it would have made more sense that I would screw up a purchase.  After scores of shopping excursions, and plenty of milk purchases, you'd think I would have gotten it.  Not so.

OK, now that that's off my chest, let me share the things I like.

The hoses in the bathrooms.  They are magical.

The Hose!

(The pictures I've included are from my hotel room, but they're the same in my apartment.  I'll take pictures there when my furniture arrives).

The virtually instant water boiler.  Takes about 30 seconds for the pot of water to boil.

Water Boiler

Actually, this next thing isn't something I like necessarily, it's just different from what I'm used to.  That is, the switch that must be turned on for the socket to work. I don't know if that means every socket has it's own fuse, or what.  Note that most of the sockets are the three-prong ones like we have on our washers and dryers. The other kind is a two prong one, with rounded prongs.  It is usually found in the bathrooms.  The three prong ones have flat, kind of square prongs.

Typical Socket

I burned out my hair dryer first thing when I arrived.  I used an adaptor to plug it in, but the dryer got super hot.  Too much juice coming from the wall?  I don't know.  It wasn't safe to use it, so I chucked it.

The last pictures are of the closet.  This one is built in , but most just set against the wall.  They're big, taking up most of the wall.  This one has cupboards that reach the ceiling.  I assume you can store things up there, but you need something to stand on.

Closet

Opened Closet

Side note - Forrest suggested, and I agreed, that my new wireless router should be named.  He's Tyrone.  I spent some quality time with him today, catching up on TV shows.  It was a joy watching them without the constant interruption of weak or lost signals.

Side note 2 - I used to watch a ton of TV.  That decreased drastically when I moved into the hotels in Sacramento.  They had different cable systems.  I didn't know when anything came on regularly because I TiVo'd everything.  I think it was a weening off, if you will, in preparation for living here, since seeing a live American show is rare. Interestingly, I scrolled through channels and have seen the Today show at night. It was live, but with the nine hour time difference from the East Coast, it was night here when it broadcasted live there.  So, I probably haven't watched three hours of TV since arriving in the UAE.  I purchased a TV with Western programming, but so far everything is still in Arabic.  I know watching TV is a great way to learn the language, so I'll probably keep a couple of Arab channels, but I'm hoping to get the Western channels soon.

Side note 3 - A dear friend just read my previous post, and reminded me that I forgot to mention, and to be thankful for, my health.  So very true.  None of this would be possible if I as in poor health, so yes, thank God I am well.  Actually, my little homesick friend has been sick since she arrived in this country.  Bronchitis progressed to pneumonia.  She's seen a doctor a couple of times, and is much better.  So, yes - I'm incredibly grateful for my good health.

Side note 4 - It's a very chilly 57 degrees outside this morning.  You need a light jacket for sure.  It'll warm up to about 75 by mid-day.


Side note 5 - Having breakfast at my new place.  It didn't make much sense filling the refrigerator and cupboards in the hotel just to move it again in a few days. Besides, sipping coffee and writing to you in my new home is a pleasant way to start the day.  


Side note 6 - I'm especially thankful for family and friends, too.  


Happy Holidays!

Gratitude

This is the second time I'm writing today, but I won't post until tomorrow because I left my computer at my new place.


Random thoughts first - 



I saw two young guys cruising in a silver and black Rolls Royce.  They definitely wanted to be sure they were seen because they kept going back and forth through the mall parking lot.  Could have been there to pick up someone, but I don't think so. They were showing off their ride.


Some of the women wear burkas that look like half-masks.  It covers their mouths and chins.  You can see more of their face, but a first glance, they look like guys in drag.  Not the most attractive look.


All Emirati men, both young and old, wear sandals with their robes - mostly brown, but I've seen black and white ones, too.  But what I have not seen is a man with crusty feet.  There's a salon for men on every corner where they get haircuts and their beards trimmed or sculptured, as I described recently.   I'm thinking they get pedicures there, too, cause they have pretty feet.  If there is such a thing.


There is almost always the strong smell on incense in the malls.  You can easily locate the kiosk where the guy is firing up and burning many different scents.  It reminds me of guys smoking reefer in college, trying to mask the smell with the incense.  It didn't work. It also reminds me of the Catholic Church.  When someone dies, they fire it up at a funeral mass, and on the occasion of a high mass they bring it out, too. Funny how smells jar certain memories.


I've only seen one brand of gas stations and they are all full service.  Not having to pump your own gas is a real treat and harkens back to the days of old.  


The native folks are really a beautiful people.  I saw a guy in the mall yesterday that was just gorgeous.  Stunning even.  I was old enough to be his momma, but that didn't keep me from enjoying the view.


Now to the real message for today - 

I've been thinking about a line my dear friend Deb M. taught me.  It's "Lord I apologize".  It is usually succeeded by something that probably should be left unsaid.

I couldn't get that phrase out of my head, not because of an inappropriate thought, word or deed, but because of my ungrateful attitude in reference to my rental car.  I met a friend, the couple with the two boys that left Abu Dhabi just before me, out shopping today.  It was good to see them.  During the course of the conversation about where to find bargains, she asked me if I had a car, and I talked about my hooptie.  Then I felt awful because they don't have a car yet, and here I am complaining about the one I have.   They have to get a cab everywhere they go, and with two kids, that's not easy.  Also, the wife's school is 90 minutes one way, so her commute is long.  I didn't even ask how she gets to and from work.   I was just remembering how I griped about my 45 minutes, that will soon be 30 minutes.

Shame on me for my ungrateful attitude.  I just posted about being thankful wherever you are, but in the case of my car, I was anything but.

Everyone needs someone in their life to check them.  My brother, Forrest, who is ten years older than me, is that person in my life.  I hope I'm that person in my sons' lives.  I think when you don't have someone who can be totally honest with you, is when you're more apt to go off the deep end.

Forrest and I talk almost every day, but for the last week or so, because of spotty internet coverage, we haven't been able to chat.  He is so much more than a brother. Because of the age difference, in many ways, he's more like a father figure.  As I mentioned before, he is the reason I left home and went to college.  And when my scholarship ran out after two years, he paid my way through school.  He's a terrific counselor and is definitely the reason Ben and Frankie lived to adulthood.  He has been, and continues to be, my confidant.

Anyway, I said all that to say, Forrest is my rock and my moral compass.  I can count on him to always be honest with me.  However, as of today, I hope my circle of friends and family will widen to include more of you who will join the ranks of setting me straight.  I give you permission to virtually slap me if you ever hear me whining or feeling sorry for myself again.  I know better, and still I'm guilty of it.

So, I decided, on this day, the one month anniversary of my being in the UAE, I want to spend the rest of this time sharing my gratitude for the most fantastic month of my life!

I'm thankful for the extraordinary time I've had of exploring this new world.  For all of the things I've done and the great people I've met.  Take the woman from New York who was waiting for her husband to arrive to share the experiences.  I know what you're  thinking.  You're tempted to feel sorry for me because I'm not sharing the experiences with someone special.  Stop right there.  I share them with you every day, and I do what I want, when I want, so I'm good.  More than good, I'm great!

I'm thankful for this blog, so that I can keep a record of all of the wonderful things I've seen and done and I'm thankful to be able to share it with you.

I'm thankful for the people I've met, the strangers who have helped me to navigate these new cities.

I'm thankful for the man, who just yesterday, motioned to me that I was driving the wrong way.  I was in a parking lot, but still, it could have gotten ugly.

And yes, I'm thankful for my rental car.  I'm thankful that the weather is wonderful so most days I can open the windows and enjoy a fresh breeze.  I'm grateful it's good on gas.  I'm grateful that I can shop anytime I want and not have to worry about hauling bags around, trying to catch a cab.  I'm grateful that I have a car to find and attend church.  Even when I was getting lost, I wouldn't have had those experiences of seeing new things - often accidentally - if I wasn't driving myself around in my rental car.

Gratitude is a choice.  I choose to be thankful everyday.