Happy Thanksgiving!

Yes...at it not a holiday here and I am acgtually at work. However, my weekend starts in about 4 hrs.

The Hallmark Store in the mall is the only place I got a hint of Thanksgiving. The store had a small section of Thanksgiving cards and minor decorations. Yes, I must slightly admit I am missing all the fun, festivies, football and food..expecially turkey and dressing.

I hope and trust everyone is having a good time with family and friends. Let's be thankful for our blessings.

I have lots more updates to come....perhaps over the weekend as time permits I will post another message.

Getting about town….

So I have been driving all around town (Al Ain). I get lost and then find my way, it can be frustration because you can driving in the same area for 10-15 mins an not realize it. However, the driving experience is getting easier each day. It is all about learning landmarks and round-abouts to get from one side of town the next.

Although street signs exist on most street, landmarks and round-abouts are how directions are given. So hand-drawn map, the names of districts (community name for an area of town) and know the round-abouts by what object are in the center is the best way for learning your way around. For now, I am still trying to use a map and learn some street name as it has been somewhat useful in my driving adventures around town.

Since Jebel Hafeet, the largest/tallest mountain in the UAE, is only 10 mins away and it takes about 15-20 mins to drive to the top. This became my second sightseeing event in Al Ain after the Al Ain Zoo a couple weeks back. The road to the top in very winding and steep, but it is very well lit at night. I did the late night trip to the top. At top…you can see the city light for kilometers (miles). The night I went was not 100% clear…so I’ll have make to trek again on clearer night. I’ll also have to go in the daytime for a different view. I was told the sunset from the top is breathtaking. I will have to experience that shortly as evenings are beginning to getting shorter.

So as a side note…since life has been so hectic and I am not settled in my permanent living quarters yet. However, I hope to me moving soon...my place should be ready in about a 6-9 days. I decided to forego my Arabic class session this semester. I think once I am more settled in a normal routine of life I will be able to better focus on learning the language and giving it the attention it needs which will be next semester (or the next time the sessions are offered). In the meantime, my colleagues are teaching me a couple words at a time and will starting listen to the Arabic Lesson CD on my computer and do some self-learning. I think it is important that I still learn basics on my own as it can/will be helpful in day-to-day living.

So the transition and adaptation to my new city is progressing….

Mall Visits - Abu Dhabi & Dubai

I took my first trip out of Al Ain and went to Abu Dhabi on Nov 2 and it is a very straightforward drive into the city to the mall. A friend took me to Marina Mall. It was huge (over 250 stores) and busy. It is located across from a gorgeous marina/beach area. The water was a great aqua color--(Sorry, no pictures, but in the future). There is definitely a mall culture here that more active than at home. Everyone here go to the mall because that is thing to do and place to be especially when it hot. The mall are well air-conditioned, almost to the point of being cold and needing a sweater/jacket. There many recognizable USA and European stores and restaurant here. There is IKEA, Dunkin Donuts, Sbarro’s Pizza, Gap, United Color of Benetton, Burberrys, Carrefour (the French equivalent of Wal-Mart) and much more. The food court is filled with food choices from all over...Indian, Arabic, Mexican, Greek, etc. I had Sbarro’s deep dish broccoli and spinach stuff pizza for lunch as I wanted just a small taste of home. Yes, it tasted just the same. As I have looked at various items while window shopping, prices depending on what you looking for will vary. They can be slightly cheaper or about the same. However, I have found books in English are costly and there limited supplies of bestsellers or variety.

I took my second trip of Al Ain, this time to Dubai on Nov 9. A friend took me to the Mall of Emirates. This the famous mall that has an indoor ski slop. The drive was interesting as there is so much construction the typical route are sometimes closed and there are many detours. Take the wrong detour, you get lost for a couple hours on the other side of town. The city is a “wow” moment. The skyscrapers are going up faster than you can count. The streets are wide and there is train transit system being built along with many roads and bridges. I did see 10% of the city and it is incredible. I will have to go again and again, just to take pictures and be a tourist. Yes, all the pictures I viewed on TV and on various website about Dubai…all came to life and in full color and I had a “wow” moment. After about 30 minutes of being amazed…it hit that I live in the UAE and I can visit more often and not be in “tourist mode”.

Mall of The Emirates is humongous. It has 450+ stores, again will know US and European and then lots of UAE and Gulf region stores as well. It was complete amazing to view the indoor ski slope and tobogganing run as the temp gauge read -3C (26F). There are 3 foods courts will choice from almost every corner of the world. We opted for Turkish food for a late lunch. I had hummus and flat bread, lamb and chicken kebab w/ rice…very yummy. So there is an impressive list of notable stores which is as follows: Alfred Dunhill, BCBG Max Azria. Borders, Burberry, Bvlgari, Carolina Herrera, Carrefour, DKNY, Dolce & Gabbana, Emporio Armani, Escada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton , Paul Smith (fashion designer), Roberto Cavalli, Tiffany & Co., Versace , Virgin Megastore, Yves Saint Laurent, Nine West, Bata, Ecco, and more
As you can see…high fashion is common place here with all the designers have their own store in the mall. Of course, like other places in the world, high fashion comes with a high price tag as well. So I’ll be sticking with the low to moderately prices stores.

Website Photo Gallery of the Mall of the Emirates: (http://www.malloftheemirates.com/photoGallery.asp).

I still have a few more malls to make some initial visits. There is Deira Shopping Centre, Festival Waterfront Centre, and Dubai Outlet Mall…just for starters.

So this is the story so far on shopping and its location…more to come as I visit new locations.

Changing Weather and Clothing

It been a couple weeks since my last update and lots has happened. I have taken trips to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, visited the Jabel Hafeet (the mountain), and continue to meet lots of new people/colleagues/friends. This update: Weather, Clothes/Shoes Shopping…

The weather is changing. The days are in the 20s C or 70s-80s F and evening are cooler This makes for walking moments. So I have be walking with a friend in the evenings and enjoy the nice weather, which by UAE standards is “nice” meaning cool or getting cold. There has been some humidity and couple overcast days. Rain was predicated about a week ago, but did not happen. On a clear night the sky is beautiful, the star are bright and very visible. I have notice new phenomena in the evenings since the cooler weather has started. You can find/see many families, group men and sometimes women enjoying a picnic or have coffee/conversation in large grassy by the hotels or round-abouts and in the public parks. There definitely more people outdoors because of the cooler weather.

Another interesting things, I have notice is that as the temperature get cooler the colors of men's dishdasha change. I now see more men were darker colors...blue, black, brown, tan and not just white. The women are still wearing their black abaya/sheila. However, the more I out and about the more I notice that the ayaba a not just plain they are decorated with intricate patterns and colors especially of the sleeves, hem, border of the sheila and neckline. Since there are people here from many different countries the clothing and covering of women are very different. You will find more colorful covering from some of other Gulf Nations as well as North African nations. Likewise the dress of men from those regions are also different. Since there is also a large Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and other Asian populations here you will also find many other traditional dress the represent their life, customs and culture.

Additionally, since most floors here are marble or tile, my shoes are often slippery as they don’t have no-slip or grip soles. So I decided to go shoe shopping for a couple pairs as well as I am looking for a shoe repair shop who can add a non-slip tips and half sole to my existing shoes. So I am finding in my adventures of shoe shopping that have feet over a size 8-9 is downfall. They are many shoes stores here and many great/cute shoes. However, size 10 (eur 42) or higher is a rare thing here. Even more rare are wide-width options. . So even when I found a size 10.5 (eur 42) it not fit as it was not wide enough and just long enough. Since I need a 10w or higher depending or brand and cut/style of the shoe, I will be ordering online from home or trying other places when I travel to other countries. I have talked with colleagues who have the same dilemma and they often stack-up on shoes during their visits home (US or Canada).

On the other hand, finding clothes will be so much easier. There are some stores here both US and European that carry slightly large sizes. However, the fun thing, I am looking forward to is have clothes made to fit me by a local tailor for a reasonable price. In some case the fabric and cost of have it made can be cheater than “ready-made” items. The other great part about find a regular tailor is I can have my favorite clothes that fit me well duplicated in different colors and fabrics. I can also find a picture of some clothing I like ask to have it made to fit me. So…this part will be exciting and fun. I will be roaming fabric stores and create new things in the future.

So this next set of update will have several parts as I share the events of the past two weeks. Much more to come….stay tune