Pictures

Nick enjoying his arabic coffee after dinner at Labanese Flower
Caroline and Drew hammen it up
Nick the center of attention (again), dinner with family and new friends

After a long Ramadan, some local Pakistan or Indian residents napping mid-day outside of the Mosque.
Andrew waiting for his Kabobs to arrive.
Caroline embarrassed to have picture taken here.
My first taste of Arabic Coffee.

The Grand Mosque. We tried going for Iftaar but found that we would be seperated. Men in one area and women in another. The stares was too much for Caroline and I. Caroline is a Swiss intern at the Swiss Embassy, we kinda adopted her. Not really she is a grown adult.

The women are required to wear a scarf at least before entering the mosque.

This is how dinner is served, rows and rows of Chicken or Lamb Brianne, dates, and other things.

Tried to get a picture of the beautiful sunset on the way home from aborting the Iftaar mission.
This is the little corner (convenient) store that Andrew, my son frequents often for skittles :).

EID AKHTAR MO MUBARAK SHA!!!!!

Eid Mubarak! or Happy Eid!. It is the equivalent of our Christmas. The "Moon Sighting Comittee" actually decides when this holiday begins based on the moon. Decorations have been going up all over the city. The malls are having a lot of sales. The locals are excited, not sure if the excitement is for Eid or the fact the Eid marked the end of Ramadan. I will say both. I know the locals must be excited about the ability to eat and drink whenever they want and need once again. I have to admit, it is difficult not to grab a drink when you are thirsty.

My husband is off of work for the whole week. I am not sure if I want him around that much hahahaha. I kid I kid, I love having him around. My son may have a problem with Dad being around all the time. He hasn’t said anything hahahahaha.
It is a good time to be in UAE, the weather is beautiful now. It is cool in the mornings and cooler in the evenings. I understand it may get down to 50’s 60’s in the winter at night, brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. You just can’t beat sunny everyday. For people like me the sun means the difference between a good day and a bad day. Apparently I am very seasonal hahahahaha. I AM WOMAN…….. Speaking of woman, I had the opportunity to chat with my mother on-line. We laughed (lol,) we made jokes and remembered good times. Mom if you’re reading this, I love our chats. SEND PICTURES!!!!!!!.

I know I haven’t blogged for awhile but since no one really reads the blogs, I guess it doesn’t matter. Hopefully next blog will be more informational, content wise. I will concentrate of finding out more about Eid if there is more to it.

Customer Service

Hmmmmmmmmmmm Where to begin, today the internet technician shows up, a day late mind you, he enters the apartment and removes his shoes. I think it is respectful to remove the shoes, I think it might be for other reasons that they do this, fine. I have to comment on the stench that preceded him, OMG the smell filled the apartment so fast. I thought I was going to get sick. Anyway, he sets up his laptop right away. I try to explain to him the problems we are having with the internet and dropped signals and he is completely ignoring me. This is not the first time this has happened to me since I have been here nor is he an Emirate. He is an Expat. Anyway at this point I am starting to feel a boil inside from waaaaaaay down deeeeeeeeep. I pick up my cell and call my husband and in front of the guy say "The technician is here and he is totally ignoring me." My husband says to put him on the phone to which I reply, "I don't want him to use my phone, you will have to call him from yours." After alot of yes sirs to my husband the man gets to work on the wireless connection or lack thereof. Long story short the technician did nothing different than what my husband has already done. The problem isn't rectified and my husband is insisting the man stay until he finds a solution to the problem. The man asked to use the restroom, OMG and my son said "yes." Believe you me, that bathroom is about to be bombed. Open all the windows and turn on all vent fans this place is going to become toxic on so many different levels. I really want to retile the floors and replace the comode.
Before the man left, he said "I have alot of work to do.", and was gone. Now to say that my husband was furious is an understatement. A huge complaint was filed today against the technician so we shall see what happens next. To Be Continued.............

Not so Green Thumb

In all my years, I have never been able to keep plants alive. When I saw the “furnished apartment” we were to live in I knew we needed some greenery. Fortunately we had a friend that chose to give his plants to me. I warned him I have never had a green thumb and while I am making confessions, let me just say I have never considered myself to be very domesticated.
These plants must live. I have raised two kids certainly I can keep a couple of plants alive. Who could screw that up? As a child, my parents constantly asked my siblings and I, “Do you think money grows on trees?“ I have a money tree…..I am still waiting for it to produce the fruit (money). I have actually been very good about watering it. The other plants that I have are bamboo and they are very interesting looking. Fortunately the bamboo just sits in water. When the water line falls below a certain area, hey add more water. The money tree sits in soil. I have a lid to one of my dishes underneath of it and when the water gets low, hey add more water. I have been doing great with it and I love the plants. I feel like there is a little extra oxygen in the living room.
I am posting picks of my plants for those of you that can appreciate what I am talking about.

Cute huh?

Big woven bamboo
The Money tree with no money......

The Sheesha Pipe...

An oriental tobacco pipe with one or several long flexible tube(s) connected to a container where the smoke is cooled by passing through water; "a bipolar world with the hookah and Turkish coffee versus hamburgers and Coca Cola"
http://www.google.ae/url?sa=X&start=2&oi=define&q=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheesha&usg=AFQjCNE4w16QGX8jd4IWxhaQItjcUnbDbA

Sheesha smoking was one of the very first things I noticed after my arrival in the UAE. My husband took me to a fantastic Lebanese restaurant called “The Lebanese Flower.” as we were eating, I noticed other patrons that had finished eating smoking this thing that reminded me of a bong only much bigger. It smelled fruity. My husband told me it is a “Sheesha Pipe.” There are areas around town, outdoors dedicated to Sheesha smoking.

I can understand everyone wanting to try it once. I even thought having one of the really pretty pipes might be nice. We had some friends over for a few drinks and one of our friends brought the Sheesha pipe upon our request, of course I am regretting it now. The next day I was researching a little bit on-line and found out that one Sheesha is equivalent to 18 cigarettes. I also read there is no nicotine in Sheesha. I was under the impression that Sheesha was better for you than smoking. I read that the minister of environment along with some others were trying to ban the Sheesha in the tents during Ramadan because of how unhealthy it is . The pipe breaks all the way down for cleaning. I was cleaning the pipe out and saw first hand what was coming out of the different pieces. I am really glad I didn’t try it now. I gave up smoking cigarettes in 2001 and haven’t looked back.
References:
http://www.thehookah.com/history/1.htm
http://www.hookahcompany.com/hookah_history.htm
http://sheesha-uae.blogspot.com/2007/03/history-of-sheesha.html
http://article.wn.com/view/2008/08/26/Sheesha_smoking_ban_in_Ramadan/

Who in Their Right Mind????????
Since Ramadan began, I have been getting up at 5:45 in the morning to make breakfast for my husband every morning; the birds are not even up at this hour. I never in my life have gotten up that early except in the military for basic training or a major exercise. Just a little history that my sister April can attest to. I am not a morning person and never have been. April, do you remember the mornings before school? My sister has always been a morning person. As you well know if you are not a morning person this is the most irritating thing in life. I have not changed in that area. So thank god hubby gets directly into the shower so I don’t have to talk hahahahaha. I know the look on my face in the morning is not a pretty one so I don’t even look in the mirror. I know this may come as a shock to the rest of my family ;). Well anyway my family has started a new regiment of “Eye Q” www.equazen.com and where as I used to go right back to bed after hubby left, I can no longer. This “Eye Q” is giving me energy and motivation. I have taken it only two days. The changes in my son were immediate. Do yourself a favor, look into it.
Married 20 years, I have always felt domesticated in a small capacity but now I cannot run from it any longer. Any other month besides the present, my husband would pay a nominal fee to receive breakfast and lunch at work during working hours, nice huh? The breakfasts and lunches are always huge buffets actually. Anyway, during Ramadan there is none of that. As a matter of fact, to barrow a quote from the local “Timeout Magazine,” the “Ramadan Do’s and Don’ts”, “Don’t smoke, drink, chew gum or eat in public in the hours between sunrise and sunset. It’s not only offensive, it could also get you a warning from the police, or even a short spell in jail for any flagrant flaunting of the rules. Don’t dance or sing in public at anytime. Most major nightclubs will be shut, but many bars will be open after 7pm. There is also no live music and nothing above background music in bars. Don’t play any loud music at anytime in your car, on the beach or even at home. Don’t wear revealing or tight clothes in public or when you’re heading for a night out. Don’t blaspheme or swear in public. Doing so is frowned upon at the best of times, but during the whole month of Ramadan, it’s particularly insulting. Do make the most of the community spirit and food to be found in the iftar tents at the city’s hotels. It’s a great opportunity to relax, play games and experience traditional Arabic entertainment. Do eat at home before heading out for the night.” This last one is very important because you feel hungry and thirsty no matter what. We are so used to satisfying our want right away that you really don’t experience hunger or thirst but on a very small scale. I am in agreement with these Do’s and Don’ts. I never want to offend anyone or interfere with their walk with the superior. I even bought an Abaya and burka to wear out in public during the month. I wore it once and was discouraged when I looked around and saw that no one else was bothering to make any attempts at modest wear. Instead of wearing the Abaya I am just dressing moderately and not wearing any shorts at all. I haven’t even been in a dress this month so far. I myself honestly don’t mind the inconvenience as I know it is only temporary.

Disrespect

Day after day I look out of my 3rd story apartment several times a day and never fail to see someone throwing trash on the street. What is really irritating about it besides the fact that the people trashing the place aren't from here is that they will pass a trash can or dumpster while they open what they have just purchased.

One of the first things I noticed about Abu Dhabi is how clean it is. Everything looks so nicely kept. Abu Dhabi is a bright beautiful place not just to visit but to live. I find myself getting very very upset about the lack of respect for the country that has opened its arms to everyone. I was talking with a family member that is also here and very environmentally concious. My cousinexplained to me that people from India or Pakistan just don't recognize dirt or what we may consider filth the same way we do. She also explained that-that would have to be taught to them. They must learn to recognize what filth is before they will change. I found that to make so much sense and yet, why hadn't I ever thought about it that way? I actually got onto one guy who was going through a dumpster pulling out the cardboard. I thought hey great, recycling is offered here. I am appreciative of those that go through the garbage and pull out the recyclables BUT, the guy also pulled out alot of garbage as well. I waited to see if the guy was going to pick up the garbage after he finished breaking down the boxes and neatly tied them together on the back of his bicycle. The guy started to ride away. I opened my window and yelled down to him to put the garbage back in the dumbster but he obviously didn't understand a word that was coming out of my mouth.

We have constuction going on next door. In the 4 months that I have been in Abu Dhabi I have watched the amount of garbage around the apartment bldg. rise and rise. The construction workers throw their garbage all over the site. So now I feel like I am living in a ghetto. In the last week I have seen a rat outside twice. On one of the two occasions of seeing this rat, I turned the corner to go to the entrance and there was the rat. The rat looked at me and I look at it. I was waiting for it to run. The rat stayed right there. I started running toward the rat and it just walked under the construction fence in no hurry at all. Several days later, I was sitting at my desk typing on the computer when my son pointed out that a huge cockroach was quickly approaching from behind. I turned to look at it and I froze. I knew those things could fly and I was so afraid it was going to take flight and land on me. It kept coming toward me and I came to in time to grab one of my sons big honken size 11 sneakers. I came down on the roach and the snap it made was loud, it really made me want to hurl. I haven't seen any more roaches since then but wonder if they are lurking behind the furniture.

The Border Run

The Border Run
Today my family drove to Oman for what we call “A Border-Run.” A border run is necessary to get a stamp in your passport good for 60 days. It is taking me longer than anticipated, to get the proper certificates authenticated mostly because the process is a long one if you are getting birth certificates from different states authenticated. In order to receive a resident visa for the UAE you must have your birth certificates authenticated first by the state of which the birth took place and then on to Secretary of State in Washington DC in Ms. Rice’s office. Once authenticated in Washington it must be forwarded onto the UAE Embassy. If you are married, the marriage certificate must travel the same route.
We set out at about 9:30 this morning and arrived at the border about an hour and a half later. There was absolutely no line this time. We were the only travelers at that time, I am assuming it is due to Ramadan, everything slows down during Ramadan. Along the way we saw large sand dunes and rock formations nothing really exciting. Because the trip is kind of lengthy I had to visit the ladies room where I was taken by surprise to see holes in the floor. I had heard and seen these before in Korea so I knew what they were for. I was having no part of it; I looked further for a “normal” toilet and was happy to find one however; there was no toilet tissue. Toilet tissue is not a priority as a lot of people in the UAE do not use tissue. I used the water hose that was next to the toilet. I was expecting a drizzle of water but it came out of the hose with such force that I wet everything. I walked out of the ladies room with soaking wet pants, perfect for the hour and a half ride back to Abu Dhabi.