11 days since my last post!

sorry about that!

haven't done much since then- besides normal stuff that no one wants to read about, lol. Dubai is still interesting and fun- enjoying the weather immensely (while it lasts) and getting to know
people better.The charity project the knitting group is working on is almost finished- with only a few stitches left in the quilt to do, photos around town on Thursday, and media with presentation of the quilt and funds raised to the shelter on Friday. It's really cute, so many new knitters with their first squares makes it really adorable and endearing to me. we all remember our first squares, right? lol.
pics are: Clear evidence that you can party in Dubai just like in the States! (friends party to celebrate their engagement)...Me and new friend Camilla at other new friend Buffi's fashion show- more pics of that to follow...the Burg Al Arab before the New Year's fog set in...the Burg after the fog came in (made me miss SF so much!) ...Jes and I at our Anniversary Lunch :-)

lack of blogging time...

i have had a heck of a time getting on here and updating- sorry about that to the few folks who visit occasionally to see if i have dropped by. 

we are still waiting for our building to have wi-fi available- so we have to go to coffee shops for internet access, which can be difficult with spotty availability and on top of that, usually i am focused on 

two things: paying bills and checking email. Often i only have time for those two things and not even replying to the emails i read! Sucks, but such is life when you have irregular access. we have been told since october that it will be one month until we have it at home...and you see how that is working out! I expect by March we will have it and it will work reliably. :-)

Christmas was nice here, lots of decorations for sale everywhere, so we had a little tree, lights, and other stuff- Jes got me a stocking with a stuffed camel on front holding a present sack that says UAE  on it! so cute. Haven't yet sent out the presents we got for family, since i am not even sure how to mail anything except documents, dhl is what i use for that, but they are extremely expensive for packages and there are other options, i just haven't found the locations yet. Folks should get their gifts by the end of Jan. lol. 

We enjoyed our first overseas Christmas with a traditional dinner, turkey and all the fixin's- turned out really good and we stuffed ourselves silly. Santa even managed to find us in our new place and we got some great gifts :-)

New Years is coming, and it is also our anniversary, 9 years! I don't know the plans- jes hasn't told me yet, but i am sure it will be fun. Today is the Muslim New Year, so he is off work today. We are hanging out near the beach and may take a walk after i finish this post. the weather is really nice- very temperate and comfortable- i need a light sweater in the evening, and have occasionally used my shawls to cover my head (found out really quick it's easier than bringing a warm hat, and keeps you really warm!) 

We may be attending a local wedding soon- and I will need to wear an abaya- looking forward to shopping for it with a friend who will help me navigate that process and then experiencing a traditional Muslim wedding. 

I will be looking for a job soon (finally!) since my residency should be completed by next week- that will be fun and I am looking forward to having something to do!

Merry  Christmas and Happy New Year! xoxo to all- keep in touch!

d

more pics

pic 1:
home in the morning

pic 2:
the shopping carts (some of the stores, not all) have a slot that you put a dirham (like a quarter/dollar coin) into, and it releases a short chain that connects each cart to another in the corrall area. you shop, then unload groceries into your car, take the cart back, insert the chain into another cart or the corrall gate, and you get your coin back! Brilliant! no carts left in the lot- since those who are too lazy to get their coin back and do leave it- someone else gets the coin! nice ;-) one of the little things i love...

dubai photos

one to get the ball rolling- the view from my apartment

I AM ONLINE!

oh mah goodness!

I finally have my own computer and it can get online- it seems like it took forever!

Just one more step towards being settled here- the couch arrives this afternoon, we have a tv, a wardrobe, and the basic kitchen stuff :-) almost feels like a home- the couch will help a lot with that feeling. An empty living room just seems so cold and uninviting.

I am such a hypocrite sometimes (aren't we all?) I rant sometimes about Americans being unwilling to integrate into foreign cultures when they move there, and that I wanted to really experience this part of the world fully- the culture, the food, the language, everything...and two days ago the most exciting thing happened: we found Miracle Whip! I can't tell you how happy that made me. Embarrassing, really. We had chili dogs after stopping in a supermarket called...wait for it... Safestway. LOL.

Just about every American brand you can think of! the only thing they lacked was Hidden Valley Ranch :-( but they did have american style ranch, and it was edible, unlike those others i found at the english market in our neighborhood, Spinney's. We had chili dogs with shredded cheese, tostitos with Pace salsa, and pickles- not the healthiest meal I have ever eaten, but it was delish.

Don't get me wrong, the food is great here, but one craves the familiar very quickly- at least I did. Jes really enjoyed it as he had been here so much longer. What really kicks ass here is the service- above and beyond anything i have had before, anywhere. I can usually rave about the South and SF- best service in the US for sure, but omg. Talk about catering to your every need- at times it is overwhelming and you have to ask for a break from the attention.

I remembered my phone cord, but have yet to upload- will do so today... more later

xoxo
-nay

sitting outside, online, and oh so happy!

the only things that could make it better would be jesse here(he's tired and stayed home), and if i had remembered to bring my phone cord....

Whoa! finished typing that and who walks up behind me? jesse! :-)

but still no pictures, sorry...

had a busy day, relatively. went to sleep around 4am, insomnia, my forever mistress- and got up at 8 to be ready for the workers coming to install my curtain wire (ikea type). that took awhile, but now have privacy in my bedroom :-). then another few folks showed up to fix the hot water. It was running too hot, and overpowered the cold water. made for some scalding showers! glad it's worked out now.

so most people want to know the differences in day to day life, so i will attempt to cover some of them...

Very Cool Difference Number One

The Power Options:
-as you get off the elevator on our floor, the hallway lights are off- and power up as you walk towards your apartment, and are on a delay to turn off several minutes later.
-in the apartment- each outlet has it's own power button, so you can have things plugged in but without power running to them in standby.
--the hot water heaters (2 for our apt) you can turn them on independently. so if i don't plan on cooking, or go out of town, I can turn one or both off for as long as necessary. they are smaller so will heat up completely if turned on the night before for a morning shower. the hot water will last at least 2 days after being turned off.
--the stove has it's own power switch, so it also does not run on standby (electric not gas), one turns on the power then turns on the burner or stove or both.

Not So Cool Difference Number One:
-The Delays
simply put- everything takes longer to do. internet set up, getting an apartment, getting a visa, fast food (not so fast) getting water turned on, driving anywhere, repairs, phone service, you name it- it takes longer than in the US. \it can be maddening.
-Two things that people say in response to this are: insha'allah (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insha%27Allah) hyper links not working- and "It's easy to live in Dubai, it's hard to get settled here"

i find no comfort in infuriating moments with either of these responses, lol...

I love that we are sitting outside a restaurant, smoking shisha (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hookah), about 400 feet from the Palm Jumeriah. the place is busy, but not crazy- the weekend starts on Friday so this is the equivalent of a US thursday night- perfect. i miss Flea like crazy but am happy that she is safe and sound with my mother until i take care of her import.

speaking of- need to close so i can look up the location of the office- going there tomorrow to hopefully get an exception for her, or advice otherwise.

xoxo
denay

safe and sound in Dubai!

So much is going on, but i have not had much time to post since internet access is spotty at best. our building is working on getting it all set up- the building is practially brand new- so i must get jes to go to the cafe with me after work.

sitting in starbucks now enjoying being with my husband, the air conditioning, and being online!

i have a phone, but don't want to display it to the world- send me an email and i will be happy to give it out. i recommend getting a phone card, much cheaper than any other option. i used www.speedypin.com when jes was here and i was in the states, but any that you find that offer calls for under 20 cents a min to cell phones is good. google search is how i found speedypin.

we are moved in to our apt. no furniture to speak of- working on that this week. we have an air mattress that is the most comfortable air mattress i have ever slept on, and a wardrobe- which solved a lot of problems right away. Curtains are being hung tomorrow, and the couch and tv should be done by the weekend.

we are on the 16th floor of a building in the Marina - we can see the Sea from our balcony and have the marina in view also- very beautiful :-) we like to be close to the ocean.

more in a couple of days- pics too! forgot my cable. xoxo- denay