Original Posting: 10 July 2009
This has been the most interesting three weeks I think I have ever experienced. There are a lot of ups and downs to living here... two weeks ago I would have said way more downs but I think as we settle in, there is a more even balance. I thought California was like living in a foreign country after spending most of my life on the East Coast but alas, Cali oddities have nothing on Abu Dhabi. More liberals... that's about it, haha!
So in all fairness to the country it is only in it's late thirties. Thirty eight, I think! Which makes the UAE only two years older than I am! As I told someone this morning, as I fume over the inefficiencies of this place, I don't have everything figured out yet at thirty-six, so maybe I should give the UAE a break. That being said, the city planning here is bonkers. There are roads that do not allow drivers to turn left for MILES! Unfortunately, one of those roads is the one outside our development! Fortunately, a back gate was opened last week so now we only have to go slightly out of our way as opposed to ridiculously out. I am a person that does not like to go south to go north if you know what I mean. This pet peeve will have to change here or I will end up with a stroke.
There are some nice things about UAE though, too. For instance, you basically do nothing for yourself. This may annoy some but I have definitely adjusted well to this aspect, lol! My cousin Allyson pointed out today that she can go into the store, point at what she wants, someone takes it to the counter, bags it, someone else takes it to her car. She then drives up to her building where someone takes it from her car and delivers it to her apartment. When I leave the mall I am stalked by guys who want to carry my things and put them in my car for me (granted these guys want a tip but jump at 5 dhs (1.36 usd). Labor is so inexpensive that we have people come once a week to take care of the yard, twice a week for the pool and the house cleaning. These are all things that John and I (err, John) used to do :) Now there's more time to do things with the kids, etc. Also, UAE is very safe. The US media gives all of the mideast a bad rep but in truth there are some very nice countries around here. UAE, Oman, Qatar, and others have nice vacation spots and very friendly people from what I have heard and read. The people in AD are very polite and very nice, service ppl want to talk to the kids, always yes m'am, no sir. The kids tend to run wild (not mine!) but I am getting used to it. If you think those damn wheeled sneakers are a problem in the US, you have no idea! They are everywhere and kids are constantly running into people in the malls, grocery stores, etc. Kids definitely have free reign over here. Keeping my kids away from that mentality will be a challenge.
Abby and Zach will most likely come home with accents. I say most likely because Abby practices her Australian/ British accent every day. She sounds Bristralian! There are no other Americans in her summer camp and so now at the end of week two, she thinks she's one of them! There are A LOT of Brits and Aussies around here. The Brits I get, I believe England used to own this country but it seems odd that so many Australians come here. I could seriously listen to an Aussie talk all day. Maybe I will try to alter my accent as well, lol! At the school they will attend in the fall there are very few Americans. Actually, there really are not a lot of people from the States here at all. The only people from the USA I have met are affiliated with John's company.
So that's kind of an abbreviated version of what I have noticed here. There is lots more but I will save that for another blog. I got the most incredible mani/pedi/massage/brow threading today (well, not that part... threading is horrible!) that I will tell you all about tomorrow. I am not sure I can ever be satisfied with another US mani/pedi now, lol! As I was sitting there, I had an idea! We are planning on doing a lot of traveling while we are here so I think I should rate mani/pedi's all over the world!! Fantastic thought, right??
Signing off for now (poor Zachy is sick with a fever and throwing up all night!) so I can go check in on my boy. Keep in touch and keep reading!
Love,
E
This has been the most interesting three weeks I think I have ever experienced. There are a lot of ups and downs to living here... two weeks ago I would have said way more downs but I think as we settle in, there is a more even balance. I thought California was like living in a foreign country after spending most of my life on the East Coast but alas, Cali oddities have nothing on Abu Dhabi. More liberals... that's about it, haha!
So in all fairness to the country it is only in it's late thirties. Thirty eight, I think! Which makes the UAE only two years older than I am! As I told someone this morning, as I fume over the inefficiencies of this place, I don't have everything figured out yet at thirty-six, so maybe I should give the UAE a break. That being said, the city planning here is bonkers. There are roads that do not allow drivers to turn left for MILES! Unfortunately, one of those roads is the one outside our development! Fortunately, a back gate was opened last week so now we only have to go slightly out of our way as opposed to ridiculously out. I am a person that does not like to go south to go north if you know what I mean. This pet peeve will have to change here or I will end up with a stroke.
There are some nice things about UAE though, too. For instance, you basically do nothing for yourself. This may annoy some but I have definitely adjusted well to this aspect, lol! My cousin Allyson pointed out today that she can go into the store, point at what she wants, someone takes it to the counter, bags it, someone else takes it to her car. She then drives up to her building where someone takes it from her car and delivers it to her apartment. When I leave the mall I am stalked by guys who want to carry my things and put them in my car for me (granted these guys want a tip but jump at 5 dhs (1.36 usd). Labor is so inexpensive that we have people come once a week to take care of the yard, twice a week for the pool and the house cleaning. These are all things that John and I (err, John) used to do :) Now there's more time to do things with the kids, etc. Also, UAE is very safe. The US media gives all of the mideast a bad rep but in truth there are some very nice countries around here. UAE, Oman, Qatar, and others have nice vacation spots and very friendly people from what I have heard and read. The people in AD are very polite and very nice, service ppl want to talk to the kids, always yes m'am, no sir. The kids tend to run wild (not mine!) but I am getting used to it. If you think those damn wheeled sneakers are a problem in the US, you have no idea! They are everywhere and kids are constantly running into people in the malls, grocery stores, etc. Kids definitely have free reign over here. Keeping my kids away from that mentality will be a challenge.
Abby and Zach will most likely come home with accents. I say most likely because Abby practices her Australian/ British accent every day. She sounds Bristralian! There are no other Americans in her summer camp and so now at the end of week two, she thinks she's one of them! There are A LOT of Brits and Aussies around here. The Brits I get, I believe England used to own this country but it seems odd that so many Australians come here. I could seriously listen to an Aussie talk all day. Maybe I will try to alter my accent as well, lol! At the school they will attend in the fall there are very few Americans. Actually, there really are not a lot of people from the States here at all. The only people from the USA I have met are affiliated with John's company.
So that's kind of an abbreviated version of what I have noticed here. There is lots more but I will save that for another blog. I got the most incredible mani/pedi/massage/brow threading today (well, not that part... threading is horrible!) that I will tell you all about tomorrow. I am not sure I can ever be satisfied with another US mani/pedi now, lol! As I was sitting there, I had an idea! We are planning on doing a lot of traveling while we are here so I think I should rate mani/pedi's all over the world!! Fantastic thought, right??
Signing off for now (poor Zachy is sick with a fever and throwing up all night!) so I can go check in on my boy. Keep in touch and keep reading!
Love,
E
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