A Lesson Learned While Riding an Elevator

Welcome to part 2 of my sunrise series entitled "Lesson's Learned". Jetlag Juli is enjoying yet another beautiful Abu Dhabi sunrise and reflecting on how most lessons are learned not from reading "how to" books, but from daily events of life.

As Texans, we are used to being friendly. I heard British lady explain that our friendliness comes from the pioneer days. Back then we had to depend on our neighbors for survival, so we became very "neighborly". I think I have to agree with that theory and have to remind myself that other cultures are not the same.

For example, yesterday I was riding the elevator when it stopped and the door opened. Waiting to get on was an ancient,toothless, little Bedouin guy. When he saw that the elevator was occupied by a western woman, he got a look of sheer terror on his face and backed away. I smiled at him and waved him on to the elevator with me in an attempt to calm his fears. All of a sudden he breaks into a big toothless grin and hops on. Then he proceeds to flirt with me all the way up and then says a tearful goodbye when he reaches his floor. What just happened??? Did he think I was giving him a "come hither" gesture? A lesson learned in an elevator - A smile and a wave between a man and a woman in Texas is quite different than one in the Middle East.

A Lesson Learned While Sitting in a Car

Mosque parking lot....you've been warned

When we first arrive at a foreign posting, the learning curve is very steep. There are customs and culture to explore, faux pas to commit and most imporantly, hairdressers to find.
We are given books to read like "How to Bloom in the Desert" and "Don't they Know it is Friday". It doesn't matter how long I am here or how many books I read, I will never learn it all. Every day that I am here in Abu Dhabi I continue to learn new things....those lessons keep finding me whether I want them to or not and often in the most unexpected places.

Example of recent knowledge gained: If you are driving around looking for a place to park so you can go have some Lebanese food, don't be tempted by that space in front of the mosque next door. If you park in front of a mosque during prayer time, it is assumed you are there to pray. It is also assumed that since you will be there praying, it is okay to park behind you and block you in. You then get to spend 30 minutes sitting in your car with your leftover tabouli, watching the devout fellows walk up to the mosque, take off their shoes, wash and pray. The mosque that I got to observe so closely was one that seemed to be frequented by Pakistani men. I could peek inside a bit and it seemed like some were praying inside and some on the patio. Not sure why. Some were just lounging around chit chating...they probably knew they were blocked-in too. A triple-XL Arab kid walks by holding an American football...hmmm, interesting. All in all, not a bad way to spend a half hour.

On another note, I've been enjoying my jet lag sunrises. I really love being a morning person.

Sunrise from kitchen window

OSOF- Update

Some records stay in place for a while, and some are broken regularly, (see posting on 2/6/08) . Records set for "obscene spending on frivolity" (OSOF) never seem to stay put for very long as there's always someone with more cash to blow on something crazy. Recently, UAE billionaire Saeed Abdul Ghaffar Khouri dropped the equivalent of $14.5 million on UAE license plate number 1.

If that seems like a big hunk of cash for a license plate, consider that Khouri, who has yet to decide on which of his many vehicles he'll mount the plate, was prepared to spend over twice that much. The sale took place at an auction in Abu Dhabi with the proceeds going to help victims of traffic accidents...which are many.

Talk to the Veil

I have realized that I have two big milestones in my blogging career looming on the horizon. First is my 100th blog and the second is the anniversary of 1 year of solid (okay, sporadic) blogging. I re-read the past 92 blogs and noticed that I had left out a few of my earlier experiences that I will share with you now. The first will be getting my driver's license.
When I first arrived, 18 months ago, I spent the first few days finding a place to live. After I accomplished that task, the next item on the agenda was getting my driver's license. Luckily the USA was on the approved drivers list, so I didn't have to do the dreaded driving test. I only had to exchange my license for an UAE one.

Here is how it went...
I was picked up by Walid, the company driver and taken out to the Abu Dhabi version of the DPS. There I was taken to the "ladies only" section where I took a number and waited my turn. (I am now a huge fan of segregated waiting rooms) My number was finally called and I went to the desk where a woman in a full veil was working. (Why she needed a full veil in the "ladies only" section was a mystery we did not solve.) You never realize how much you rely on lip reading and facial expressions to communicate until you try talking to a veil.

The conversation went...
Veil -"mumble, mumble, mumble"
Me - "I'm sorry, what did you say"
Veil -"mumble, mumble"
Me - "I'm sorry, I don't speak arabic"
Veil - "mumble, English, mumble"
Me - Can you write it down???
She writes - "who will be your sponsor"
Me - "Sponsor???" My train of thought goes like this. Driving...sponsors....oh like NASCAR, Goodyear, Mobil 1, Pennzoil. So after some thought I decide on my sponsor...."Exxon" I say.
Veil - "what??" "No, no"
She writes - "where is your permission letter from your husband? He will be your sponsor."
Me- excuse me for a minute
I quickly go to the "men's only" section to find Walid and tell him of my plight. He goes into a back room and promptly procures a fax from Mr. David saying that his wife has permission to drive and he will be my sponsor. I do end up with a UAE driving license good for 10 years, but was disappointed that I wouldn't be getting a cool Dale Earnhardt Jr. jumpsuit afterall.

Big Brother is watching

I've noticed that the Google log-in for my blog is now in Arabic.
تسجيل الدخول باستخدام حساب Google الخاص بك
This must have happened while I was gone the last few months. Typing my password from right to left is interesting, and I wonder if I can count Big Brother among my readership now...hmmm.
Let me just say that Sheikh Kalifa has never looked so handsome and comanding. The country is in good hands with him. And Sheikh Mohammed, why you have your Daddy's good looks and charm. He would be so proud of you.
Okay, that having been said,who can spot the kleenex in the picture below? (hint: there are 2 boxes)

More thoughts from a jet-lagged brain

George W. with Sheikh Mohammed, Condoleezza Rice and Ambassador Michele Sison,

I'm back in Abu Dhabi now. I enjoyed my Texas time, but I'm glad to be back especially for the blog's sake. The inspiration to write hits me as soon as I enter Abu Dhabi airspace. I get my bags and we are walking to the car. It is about 68 degrees and I'm wearing a light jacket.....David is in short sleeves and sandals. Then I look and see that the locals are wearing parkas and wool hats and all talking about the "big freeze". Then and there the blog juices begin to flow.

What has happened since I've been gone....

Two things shut down the country in January.

George W. came for a visit....and it rained. The first sitting US President ever to visit the UAE did not cause as much havoc as 3 days of rain. There is no drainage in Abu Dhabi because, well, it is the desert. Needless to say there was flooding of Biblical proportions.

For the first time, the police had to deal with "splashes" instead of "crashes".

Saudi Arabia denies Cupid a visa

Leave it to the Saudis to put a wet blanket on any possible Hallmark moments.

The Saudi Arabian Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has removed all red items from shops until after Valentine's Day. Even red wrapping paper is taboo.

"As Muslims we shouldn't celebrate a non-Muslim celebration, especially this one that encourages immoral relations between unmarried men and women."

Does this get Saudi guys off the hook??? Oh no...because of the ban on red roses, a black market has "flowered" ahead of Valentine's Day. Roses that normally go for $1.50 each, cost $8.00 during the ban. Delivery charges are increased as well because the flowers must be delivered in the middle of the night to avoid suspicion. Not only do they still have to come up with the flowers, they have to pay 5 times the amount.

My Big Fat Arab Wedding

It is time for the Abu Dhabi Bridal Show. I love this picture of the girls in hijab checking out the model brides. These models are probably as close as any of us (especially males) will get to seeing a picture of an Arab bride. Arab weddings are completely segregated and the only male to see the bride is the groom and maybe the father and father in law. All this show...the lace, silk, make-up etc. is all done for the other women who will be attending the female wedding party. It is also very important to look your best even if you are just a guest. Weddings are where the mothers, aunts are daughters are scouting for future brides for their sons, nephews and brothers. Most marriages are arranged and many end up marrying cousins, especially when a lot of wealth is involved.

Here a bride can choose between modern (Western) or traditional wedding attire. The good news is that there are no bridesmaids, therefore no horrid bridesmaid's dresses. After seeing the movie, 27 Dresses, I think the Arabs have the right idea.

Records set for obscene spending on frivolity - What every Rolls Royce needs

I struggle to get motivated to blog when I am away from the streets of Abu Dhabi. I guess I never realized how much inspiration they bestowed on me. That said, I am doing better at Texas blogging today. I figured out how to upload pictures on this computer, but I still haven't be able to get spell check to work. Oh well, most of my readers are more into pictures than good spelling anyway.

We all know that vanity plates cost extra and we have all heard about millionaires in Hong Kong paying a million dollars to have the lucky number 8 on their license plate. Of course, the Arabs love their cars and love their status too. That combination is a recipe for the following story.

It seems that spending $700,000 for a car was not enough for Talal Khouri (pictured above, 3rd from left). You will understand why he has such a firm grasp on his worry beads. He has just set the all-time record by spending 6.75 million dollars on the licence plate with the number 5. He will be putting this on his shiny red Rolls Royce of course. What is interesting is that the license plate actually cost 10 times more than the car. Talal also owns the plate with the number 7 which he just paid a mere $3 million for. The numbers 1-4 will be coming up for auction soon...I'll keep you posted.

Interesting thought to ponder...Talal is not in the oil business

Superbowl Monday

In a few weeks I will be back in Abu Dhabi and the blogging will be a part of my daily routine. In Texas, I am afraid I have neglected my blogging. I guess I don't see much interest in my observations of life in Big D (although I did see camels on I-20 on my way to Canton a few weeks ago.)
So here is what I'm missing back in the UAE.
It is Superbowl weekend and that is also true for American ex-pats in Abu Dhabi with a few exceptions....
#1 - Sunday is not a weekend, it is a workday
#2 - It will be taped and shown on Monday because 5:00pm CT on Sunday is 3:00am Monday UAE time.
#3 - There will be various Superbowl parties including the one at the embassy sponsored by the American Women's Network. Perhaps the only superbowl party with a security check, perhaps not. (See invitation below)

American Women’s Network February 2008
Super Bowl Party 2008 !!!
There are a few spaces left to join the fun at a
screening of the Clash of the
New England Patriots
vs. the
New York Giants!!
Monday, February 4th
U.S. Embassy – Chesty’s Pub
Doors open at 5 pm
Screening at 6 or 6:30 pm
Drinks and “Super Bowl grub” provided
50 dirhams per person
Please make sure that you have received updated
information from Carole about entry and parking
restrictions at the US Embassy. If not, contact
Carole before the party.

Yes, the Embassy has a pub and yes, the name is Chesty's (your tax dollars at work).