Culturally Adjusting

So I have been about getting connected in as many ways as I can. I have meet several colleagues in my department and others departments. As a result, I will be getting involved in some activities in the area. I have joined a couple online expat communities and plan to have lunch or coffee with some of the folks from these groups. I have met a couple co-workers who are introducing me to groups and activities in the city.

I have been around the city a little...a mixture of old and new with lots of construction cranes...the evidence that the city is growing. This includes the university that will be building several new buildings over the next two years.

I have heard that the Al Ain Mall is a hub of activity especially in the evening. I am going to experience this tonight with another new colleague and her daughters. Give a report later.

So other observations to date:
**Mobile: I now have a mobile phone. Your mobile is your lifeline here. Since there are no street addresses, you are mobile number is your address, thus you are “intimately” connected.

**Food: Meals in general are eaten later what was normal to me. The food is rich, spicy and very tasty. I have been trying almost everything as long as it seems recognizable to me. Sometimes, I have no idea what I am eating, but mostly eating lots of lamb, fish, fruits, vegetables and varies rice dishes w/ nuts. The new cuisine is a part of the adventure, which is a blend of Arabic, Indian, Mediterranean, etc

**Car: Many of the car windows are tinted so dark…I wonder how they see so drive.

** Taxicabs…Let us just say NYC taxicabs driver are great driver compare to the one here. There is not sense of common road courtesy or even the “rules” of the road that they abide by at anytime. The only “rule” they seem to abide by is the red traffic light and everything else is subject to their interpretation. Most drivers only speak a few words of English (but they then to understand the major landmark/locations) and can be very rude to you even while driving you somewhere.

**Smoking: It is everywhere. Unlike the US where there is “now” a big push for smoke-free environments from hospitals to restaurants not so here. Second-hand smoke…no fun.

Well…that is all for now…more updates on the way

The Journey begins...

My day started 3:45 am EST in North Carolina on Monday, Oct 15th. The first leg of my journey to the Al Ain, UAE began with a flight from NC to JFK, then the second leg from JFK to Abu Dhabi arriving at 7:45 am on Tues., Oct 16th. So with two flights, a 3 hrs layover at JFK and a 8hrs time different, it still the same day for me. My 12 1/2 non-stop from JFK to Abu Dhabi went faster than I had anticipated with a meals, movies and sleep.

I arrived to lots of fog while landing in Abu Dhabi, but that disappeared quickly into a nice, bright, sunny, 36 degree (97 F) day. Since, I was having a good conversation with my colleague and I was excited; the drive from Abu Dhabi to Al Ain did not seem long (1hrs 45 mins). Al Ain is a very green city fill with lots trees/flowers and round-a-bouts that are 2-3 lanes wide w/ speeding traffic. Driving will become a completely new experience for me.

Let’s see there are a couple things I will have to learn really fast…the metric system (for everything is in metric) and adjusting to the currency and its value (not thinking in US dollars). Time to recall or our use a friendly website until my memory improves about all the metric things I learned decades ago.

My first day was quiet, checked-in to my hotel, relaxed, had a good lunch, sat by the pool and read my book. This is my moment of feeling like a tourist for one day as I start orientation on Wed for work.

I am tired and sleepy, so because I needed to stay awake for a few more hours until it is late night for bedtime which should help me reduce my jetlag…I decided this was good time to create my blog and post my first message.

Thank you everyone…I miss you all