So, I have now been back for a couple weeks after my 2 week hiatus in the US. A very well balanced trip, including a work conference, family, friends, and you know....American things.
Fast forward to 10 days ago, when I arrived back here. How to describe the weather...Hell-ish? The humidity is at astounding levels now. Combine that with a base of around 105-110 degrees daily, and you get an oven. Literally. I am baking.
And to cope with the surprisingly bad jetlag that I encountered upon returning to Dubai, I turned to the old mainstay, Starbucks. Normally I settle for the office coffee--I'm trying to resist wasting money on things here that I can get at home. Anyway, I go to get a venti iced coffee (I needed the caffeine, let me tell you). She tells me it costs 20 dirhams. That's almost $6 for just plain ole iced coffee. WTF? Thank god I don't get it every day. Also, you all will be happy to know that they know the "fill the cup to the top with ice before pouring coffee" trick so I was totally paying $6 for a whole bunch of ice and some coffee.
And in case you're wondering, I have not heard of ANY Starbucks closing over here. And they're EVERYWHERE. So once again, the Ameri-fication of the world continues. For the record, the UAE is also host to multiple McDonald's, Hardee's, Subway, KFC, Burger King, Papa Johns, Dunkin Donuts, KRISPY KREME (and they deliver), Baskin Robbins, Haagen Dazs, and the list goes on. Yet, I still can't find a decent salad. Shocker.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Quirks and question marks
So lately, there are a few things that have been happening here that I realize I've gotten accustomed to, but which I will never accept. Also, I haven't been sharing them as they come up, so here is a bit of a list.
For example, today when I walked outside, my glasses fogged up. But, they didn't unfog. I had to take them off after about 10 seconds of attempting to walk to my car, because frankly, I couldn't see anything. Wow. Talk about humidity.
Then, a few days ago, I tried to access Craigslist. Sorry, no dice. The internet company here blocks it, with this screen below:
They say it's not accessible because it's not consistent with the moral, cultural and social values of the UAE. Wow. Craigslist is morally irresponsible, and they're making that decision FOR me. Wham. In my face.
Then, I was at the airport going to Beirut this past weekend. We actually took a flight from Sharjah airport, which is in the emirate right next to Dubai. So, because this emirate is a bit more conservative than Dubai (it's dry, i.e. absolutely NO alcohol allowed) and the women dress much more covered up, I wore jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. Nonetheless, it was obvious I'm western compared to most of the women who were in the airport, dressed in black abayas, floor-length skirts, head wraps, et al. Two different women came up to me when I was standing in line and spoke in very sweet voices, asking me questions in Arabic.
Now, I don't mind if they have a legit question but it was blatantly obvious that I was western and that I was, in fact, the odd one out who most likely would need to ask them a question. So, I wasn't pleased. Because I got the feeling they were trying to make me feel badly about being western, or not being able to speak Arabic, or essentially we're trying to make me look foolish in front of an airport full of people. No thanks.
THEN, I was driving home from work the other day. I live in an area that isn't far from work so I don't have to deal with the dementia-inducing traffic in this city (for the record, apparently there are about 2.5 million people living in Dubai, and there are 1 million cars on the road every morning and evening. Um, what?). So, all of a sudden, boom, traffic jam. Sweet. So I can't figure it out. I mean there is almost never traffic at this specific stretch of the 10-minute ride. Thirty minutes later, it all becomes clear. On the other side of the road, a van's engine caught fire. Fair enough, given the temperature usually reaches about 120 every day now. So, instead of just rubber necking, people had STOPPED on the road to get out of their cars and watch the dousing of the fire. Not pull over and watch the thrilling sight of water flooding a van engine. No, no. Actually blocking the road to look at this. So essentially there's one lane instead of 2 plus a shoulder. Excuse me? What universe is this? Get the ef out of the way, crazies.
All of this is redeemed (albeit slightly) by the fact that it took me 70 dirhams to fill my gas tank. That's approximately $19. Sorry. Had to disclose that.
For example, today when I walked outside, my glasses fogged up. But, they didn't unfog. I had to take them off after about 10 seconds of attempting to walk to my car, because frankly, I couldn't see anything. Wow. Talk about humidity.
Then, a few days ago, I tried to access Craigslist. Sorry, no dice. The internet company here blocks it, with this screen below:
They say it's not accessible because it's not consistent with the moral, cultural and social values of the UAE. Wow. Craigslist is morally irresponsible, and they're making that decision FOR me. Wham. In my face.
Then, I was at the airport going to Beirut this past weekend. We actually took a flight from Sharjah airport, which is in the emirate right next to Dubai. So, because this emirate is a bit more conservative than Dubai (it's dry, i.e. absolutely NO alcohol allowed) and the women dress much more covered up, I wore jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. Nonetheless, it was obvious I'm western compared to most of the women who were in the airport, dressed in black abayas, floor-length skirts, head wraps, et al. Two different women came up to me when I was standing in line and spoke in very sweet voices, asking me questions in Arabic.
Now, I don't mind if they have a legit question but it was blatantly obvious that I was western and that I was, in fact, the odd one out who most likely would need to ask them a question. So, I wasn't pleased. Because I got the feeling they were trying to make me feel badly about being western, or not being able to speak Arabic, or essentially we're trying to make me look foolish in front of an airport full of people. No thanks.
THEN, I was driving home from work the other day. I live in an area that isn't far from work so I don't have to deal with the dementia-inducing traffic in this city (for the record, apparently there are about 2.5 million people living in Dubai, and there are 1 million cars on the road every morning and evening. Um, what?). So, all of a sudden, boom, traffic jam. Sweet. So I can't figure it out. I mean there is almost never traffic at this specific stretch of the 10-minute ride. Thirty minutes later, it all becomes clear. On the other side of the road, a van's engine caught fire. Fair enough, given the temperature usually reaches about 120 every day now. So, instead of just rubber necking, people had STOPPED on the road to get out of their cars and watch the dousing of the fire. Not pull over and watch the thrilling sight of water flooding a van engine. No, no. Actually blocking the road to look at this. So essentially there's one lane instead of 2 plus a shoulder. Excuse me? What universe is this? Get the ef out of the way, crazies.
All of this is redeemed (albeit slightly) by the fact that it took me 70 dirhams to fill my gas tank. That's approximately $19. Sorry. Had to disclose that.
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