Crazy Islander on the loose :)

attempt to be productive -FAIL, here's what we did at the weekend instead...

I'm procrastinating.

Instead of packing my valuables and delicate items, I've taken to keeping myself busy staring out the window, daydreaming and trying to convince myself that I'm not hungry, not necessarily in that order.  I also pause in-between these very difficult tasks to give the boxes which are shaking their heads and tutting their lid flaps at me a menacing look and a *snip* *snip* motion of the scissors.  That should stop their judgemental looks for a few minutes.

Rich's best friend Chris, his lovely wife Caz and their most gorgeous 16 month old daughter were here for only 2 nights for a whirlwind of a catchup before heading off to Oz for a wedding.  I last held Emily in my arms when she was just a wee bebe at 6 months and now she's a chattering, walking little person!  She was absolutely scrumptious and has the cutest chubby cheeks which were always rosy and I had to stop from doing that terrible old auntie Marge thing of pinching her cheeks constantly and cooing.  

Chris is Rich's best friend and was the best man at our wedding.  Rich is always on top form around him and I love watching them interact - you can see what they were like as youngsters ; cheeky, mischievous and dodgy bwahahaha.  Listening to them reminisce about their various entrepreneurial pursuits when they were in Secondary school, both legitimate and *cough* dodgy had me in fits of laughter.  Things like charging kids to use the computer (we're talking before most of us knew what a computer was 20 odd years ago), a successful printing business (with a side of fake ID making) to selling condoms for twice the price (as part of a "genuine" concern for fellow students).  Absolutely legit.

It's not often that I get to see Rich like this, he's the shy one in our marriage (in case you hadn't noticed).  We had 2 nights and a full day with them.  We were racking our brains trying to come up the best way to spend a day in Dubai and what it would be that they'd want to see.  In the end it turned out to be half a day as we weren't up and ready till half 12, 1pm.  After a quick consultation with the F family, it was decided they'd like to see the iconic bits which Dubai was well known for. 

So away we went, down the main stretch of highway which passes from Sharjah, through Dubai until you reach Abu Dhabi (Capital of UAE)  Took a right until we were on the scenic Beach Road taking in the varying large mansioned houses, beach parks, zoo until we arrived at the;

Burj Al Arab (photos another time as it takes way too long to upload) 7 Star Hotel, rumoured to have a cross only visible from the sea where the Restaurant juts out - TICK

A quick wander and paddle at Umm Suqeim beach - TICK

Palm Jumeirah (man made island in the sea) - TICK

Atlantis Hotel - sits on the crest that goes over the top of the Palm.  Kylie performed at opening ceremony and also famed for it's $18,000,000 firework display at opening - TICK

Mall of Emirates (Lavish Mall, designer brands, biggest indoor ski slope) - TICK

Strolled down the Bur Dubai Creek (immdiately opposite Deira creek for some history) - TICK

Dubai Mall (apparently biggest in the world) Fountain spectacular - TICK

Burj Dubai (Tallest building in the world) - TICK

Shababeek for some Lebanese food - TICK x2 because the food was great as usual :)

We got home about 10.30pm, shattered, stuffed stupid and ready to roll into bed but not without a hot cuppa tea (Caz) milo (Chris and I) and valiant attempt to thwart the threatening yawns of a late arrival (3am) and a full on all day excursion.

Such a fulfilling day, lots of laughs, great company and hand holding from my little girl Emily.

Summer

Summer is fading away now, and you can hear the collective sighs of relief from every ex-pat young and old to the local Emirate's.  In this day and age with the advancement of technology, there is no longer a need to suffer the heat of the desert(unless of course you're a labourer which then means it's a lottery)

It's been my first real summer in Dubai, I've normally been away overseas and I have to admit to understanding why it becomes a ghost town from July to September (it would probably be longer but schools don't close before July).  The heat dictates activities outside at certain hours of the day but even on a good day at the height of the the season, it boggles the mind how anyone could do work in that 45+ degree weather and not faint from the sheer heat and dehydration.  

There's a law here in the UAE which prohibits labourers from working between midday(the hottest hour) till about 3pm in the Summer but also states that labourers who are then made to work extra hours for those lost in the day, are to be paid overtime.  There are many laws like these here in the UAE, which in print protect the rights of the labourers.  In actual fact, many Employers don't follow the law, it's sad but true.  I often find myself taking bags of food, blankets and clothes to drop off spots for those in extreme need, who haven't been paid for months and can't afford the basic necessities.  These lowly paid workers come here because the pay is better than in their own homeland like India, Sri Lanka, Phillipines, Lebanon.  At the end of the day, it is money, it puts food on the table, gives their children an education so that they don't have to go through what are going through now.

They come here because they have large families and little chance of work where they are from.  Because the money here goes 10 times further than what they would make at home. The stories behind these people are heartbreaking.  They leave their children behind, many as young as a couple of months to be raised by family members.  Many women come on their own, many men as well.  And they live on the very minimum in order to send as much money home as possible every month.  Some are required to work for 2 years before being allowed to go home to their loved ones, some are promised a  ticket home every other year but often it's 3 years.  The conditions may not be as extreme but the reasons behind leaving one's country in order to provide for their family reminds me of our Samoan people.

Don't get me wrong, there are many good Employers here but it would seem that there are just as many bad.  

Ex-pats here are quick to voice their "educated" opinions and some make flippant remarks like "well if they don't like it they should go home".  I'm betting that were there a chance of decent jobs or even the actual opportunity of a job, those working as labourers here would be home in a shot.  Not everyone is as blessed to have well paying jobs and the ability to question their work situation without reprimand.  It is illegal to go on strike here, as is having unions.  Like I said before, it's a lottery - if you get a good Employer, the work is hard but you are treated fairly, kindly but more importantly humanely. Before I started driving(the last year and a half) I always spent my Taxi Rides yacking away to the Drivers about their lives, it was a mixture of tales, though the majority were not nice to hear about.  Some come from very honour bound societies.  They return home and sing praises of Dubai whether it be true or not, and so the next wave and generation come over. 

It's easy for me to slap myself back to reality when I start to whine or complain about life, all I do is look out my window and watch the construction workers from dawn till dusk, hammering away, without safety harnesses, or the proper safety attire.  People say that it's easy to get lost in the glitz and glamour of Dubai, I wish they could show me where that is, because no matter where I am, whether it's Jumeirah, the Marina or in the poorest areas nearby the creek, there is always a constant reminder of those who have more than they need and those who don't have nearly enough.

It's still a great experience here in Dubai, there are fantastic stories with happy endings for many labourers.  Conditions for the labourers are improving, there are many charities that help them and ensure their well-being.  We support many of these charities both financially and physically.  There are times where we wrestle with shutting off and enjoying what Dubai has to offer guilt free.  Sadly, we've become so accustomed to seeing it that I don't think we take as much notice of it as we would have done 2 years ago.  Life just goes on until the media reports something shocking that makes you pay attention again. 

It's a sobering thought, but it's the honest truth.

I did love him...

from	Netia Gxxxx <xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
to		Richard Gxxxx <xxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
date		Wed, Oct 28, 2009 at 9:33 AM
subject		Cafe

My darling husband,

Due to reason's beyond my control, I cannot access Facebook and would therefore be grateful if you could check my cafe and serve my roast chickens and cheesecake.  If you could also put on more chickens and cheesecake to cook, that would just be wonderful.

Your loving wife,

Netia

xox

from	Richard <xxxxxxxxxx>
to		Netia  <xxxxxxxxxx>
date		Wed, Oct 28, 2009 at 10:42 AM
subject		RE: Cafe

Done… though the only thing ready was the cheesecake.  Chicken had 6hrs to go.

And I was perfectly happy and content, no withdrawals and only missing FB a little bit like you would miss something like mopping the floors which you do like twice a week and not every day you know?

Then he found out about my 48 hour faceoff, did a song and dance to the tune of "OMG - and you're asking me to cook your cafe food for you?  You are such an addict, I'm going to tell everyone on your wall" *cackle, cackle, lol*

Just go ahead and imagine my response to that...yeah you can forget about your "special" (wink wink) night today or any time resembling the word soon Mr G, until I read what your comment was!!

Only 13 hours and minutes to go, not long at all and then I'll make sure to stop by yours Jody for sure :-)

Facebook 48 hour Faceoff

                                          

"...ladies and gentlemen, in the red corner..."

Lani and I have found ourselves in a rather serious predicament - that of a person with a serious addiction.  And in true "rip the plaster off" style, we're abstaining for 48 hours. Which right now seems a life time and already, mere minutes if not seconds after properly logging out and unticking the 'remember' me box, we are twittering about it.  Gloves are off and it's time to start remembering how to deal with life outside a virtual cafe, start talking to people again and writing!  The prospects are already dizzyingly exciting! 

I'm pretty sure I've passed the first step of recovery with flying colours :)  and yes I do absolutely realise how pathetic I am right now

...and what's your point? lol 

Ding Dong - Nobody's home, go away :)

It's 9pm and the doorbell's ringing.  Whose come all the way out to Shrjah to see me?  No one in their right mind, that's who.  So I'm just sitting quietly in my bedroom, typing ever so slowly to minimise the noise in case he hears it.  I'm pretty sure it's the car wash guy but he's 2 days late and hello I'm in my PJ's already!! 

1 minute later

Oh rats, there goes the doorbell again...Damn...I just inched slightly to the right and the bed just squeaked and in light of my current mission (minimise noise and pretend not to be home) it's not doing me any favours!

10 minutes later

Hmmm...I can't hear anything, that must mean he's gone!  Gosh, what a relief!  You know when you're in your PJ's - the ones you wouldn't let any human being see you in, except for the hubby?  That's what I'm wearing right now and it's not exactly, erm,culturally friendly to this part of the world (if ya know what I'm sayin' y'all).  I feel a little guilty for not opening the door now, but I seriously can't be bothered getting changed all over again - plus I've spent the last 2 days tracking him down to pay him but he just doesn't seem to want to be found...until 9pm at night, when people are in their rags and tatty pj's hanging low and swinging freely!!

So Rich is back in Saudi this week, he gets back tomorrow and boy will I be happy to see him.  It's been 3 months of him spending a week in Saudi and coming back home for the weekends and I just feel so sorry for him having to do this travelling.  He wouldn't have it any other way though according to him in his very own words "there is <enter expletive of your choice here> all to do here"   He was meant to be back for a good few weeks last weekend but he was called away last minute which gets pretty frustrating especially after you call your friends for the 10th time to apologise and cancel on them.  I'm surprised we have any left to be honest...must be my spanking oi I mean sparkling personality and twingle in moy oye that does it heh heh heh.  

Anyway back to my poor husband coming home - one friend suggested that I throw my energies into planning a "special" homecoming (wink wink) for him.  So I was thinking about it (which takes a lot of effort now that I'm 30) and came up with;

• hot bath
• hot dinner (which isn't really special as he always has that)
• a laptop lap tray thingy (I haven't bought it, just a thought) to make it just that little bit easier to access his mistress.

Then I realised that we hadn't changed our dinner plans with friends for tomorrow night...so he's actually going to come home to an empty house, no hot bath (but will turn on the hot water for him) and a maybe laptop lap tray thingy.  And then several moments after that, the realisation hit me of the kind of "special" night my friend had in mind.  Perhaps, I am a lot more tired then I thought!

From eating to bottom poofs in one breath.

I love my cousin.  I'm pretty sure she loves me.  And below?  Well it's just one of our loving conversations on G-Chat I thought I'd share with you all because...well because it made me smile and remind me that there is no way that we aren't family, also copy and paste makes it easy :)  

Faautu:  what you got to eat?

me: nothing my cupboard is bare, narry a bone for the wee dog

me:  now back to the topic, when you coming to Dubai?

Faautu:  yeah

Faautu:  well, i've been avoiding this because of denial really

me:  heyyyyyyyyyyyy you shouldn't feel that way

Faautu:  but i do

me:  thats why I brought it up, I feel you may feel

Faautu:  and there's nothing you can say to make me feel any different.  I'll just have to deal with it

me:  but its not like that you know 

ummmm

I'm lost sorry

Faautu:  LMAO

me:  I just saw a picture of tupperware

Faautu:  me too actually

me:  and I drooled

and lost my brain for a bit

start again?

lol

Faautu:  ANYWAY... I won't be coming over in the next three months

me:  thats okay it's okay if you don't ever make it

Faautu:  other than samoa, my next trips are all for work

me:  I just want you to know

Faautu:  and i can't get out of them...

me:  that you are special enough to me

that I ask regularly

Faautu:  i'll be damned if i dont make it

lol

me:  those who aren't so lucky are asked once and forgotten

so you seeeeeeeee it's not pressuuuuuuuuuuuureeeeeeeeeeeee

it's a sign of LURVE

Faautu:  LMAO *mutters* "lurve under pressure"

i know

me:  Pure unadulterated lurve

Faautu:  but i disappoint myself when i dont come round

me:  se leai

eh lookie here

I want you to come

I have imagined all our late night talks

swims

laughing

Faautu:  yeah seriously

me:  BBQ's

you know all that stuff

and that's why I keep asking, because we both know it's always a great time when we're together

Faautu:  ioe 

me:  gawd doesnt this sound like the back of a mills and boon story

bahahahahahaha

anyhoot

but if you can't make it

you can't make it

sad for you

sad for me

sad for the whole damn world except for UAE who will be wiping their brow in "THANK GOD" like attitude

because you know, you're a mini tornado all on your own

Faautu:  LMAO

kae

me:  lol

Faautu:  hahahahaha

no im not

me:  ummm yeah you are

hahahaha

Faautu:  im a light breeze

me: not even a light breeze

Faautu:  that cools you down and makes you sigh with delight

me:  more like a LOUD Pungent FART bwahahahahahahahahahahaha

Faautu:  BAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

me:  that LINGERS

Faautu:  ai kakae!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Faautu:  when do you leave Dubai?

Missing this

I have really missed blogging the last few weeks.  Ever since the Tsunami hit Samoa, I've been left wordless, without imagination (it is questionable that there was any there before) and generally feeling so low and without enthusiasm for much at all.  Then the last week, I've just wanted to put fingers to keypad but have found myself without the luxury of time.  You see, we're moving...again.  Remember how we moved to Sharjah to save some money?  Well that's all done and now we're headed back to Dubai and I've spent the last week looking at Villas as we've both decided that apartment living is just not for us.

Just as we predicted last year with Rich, the housing bubble popped a few months ago and we are reaping the benefits of sacrificing a year in Dubai out in Sharjah, hours of commute time, horrendous traffic and no get together's with friends.  I spent 3 intense days of house hunting and it was lucky number 56 that did it for us.  No tears this year, no angst just exhaustion from driving from 7am till 8pm and I'm so glad I did it.  

We move in on the 5th November God willing everything goes to plan, as in the Landlord sends the contract back signed on Monday.  We got a great deal.  More house than the first time we were in Dubai for less money - I couldn't find any smaller Villas which weren't ready for the demolition man or in a good area.  And this time, I not only scrutinised the contract with a fine tooth comb, I also made added clauses in there which would protect us from money whore landlords (I make no apology if you are in this category!  Of course you can get regular nice guy landlords like us).  I am so excited that I have started drawing out the floor plans of the house and assigning furniture, which in my mind (to justify what some would call odd behaviour) is for the movers...to make their life easier :)  I'll just keep on telling myself this, shouldn't be too long before I totally believe it heh heh.

Anyway, that's all I have time to share seeing as I have to drop off cheques to said money whores, because even though we've managed to save money and pay less I could still build that mansion in Samoa and have dinner with what it's costing us. :)

*Note to SIL Caroline - When should I pencil you in for,  now that I can drive, are back in Dubai and have space for kids to run around and swim in? :)

First UAE Fund Raiser for the Tsunami hit Samoa

Rugby Touch Tournament to Fund Raise for Tsunami Victims in Samoa in Dubai is TODAY hosted by the Samoan Community in the UAE.  There is still time to come down and register your team or else bring the family along, as we'll have lots of things for the kids as well.

Flick me a text if you need directions or any other information.  

Faafetai Tele Lava.

A tribute to the Tsunami Samoa Victims 2009

A slideshow of pictures put together by Mega:

I cried when I watched it, it's not the first time and most certainly won't be the last.  I haven't written about the Tsunami yet, I think it's a post for a bit later.  But just the out pour of love from all of you and everyone else I know is incredibly uplifting.  It's a sad sad time for Samoa, but it's time to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and get on with it, rebuilding, reconnecting, reliving our lives.  

Thank you Mega for this xx

Tsunami hits Samoa

Our beloved Samoa 

has been devastated

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/30/samoa-tsunami

Please help if you can.

"Push the Button"

Crazy busy time

These past few weeks really have just been so busy and filled with last minute things to do, people stopping over and just sorting out various bits and pieces of life.

Right now I'm feling quite ill.  After Mega, Alex and Tau left I suddenly came down with a fever and vomiting...maybe time to see a doctor.  I've been stuffy the last few days but just kept putting it down to, too much living and not enough sleep.  Perhaps I was wrong!  I have been sleeping all afternoon and was only woken by a phone call from my friend Anna, checked the phones and I have several missed calls and text messages.

I have a birthday post coming up, long overdue but it's been a long long celebration and I have many people I want to thank and pictures that need editing and then uploading.

Did I mention that Megs and the family have left?  The silence is deafening!  R is also away in Portugal visiting mum and Richard so it's getting lonely right now.  Facebook isn't doing it's "thing" for me and my laptop has either died a horrid death or the cable is stuffed, either way I had to turn on the desktop and painstakingly get it to working mode which I, in the last hour have improved by kicking Windows Explorer out on it's toosh and downloading my beloved Chrome (yes it has it's minor faults but works SO much better than WE) and other little tweaks from the holidaying hubby (I now owe him a couple hours of uninterrupted computer time in lieu - fantastic marriage aye?  It's all about taking AND giving lol)

Some fabulous news this week, 2 of my lovely friends gave birth this week.  Megan had a little girl who hasn't been named yet and Jenn had baby boy Tautai.  Such beautiful blessings :)  Congratulations to you both!!

I've been getting back into baking and cooking.  Got a Rachel Ray cookbook from Rich for my birthday but haven't managed to try any recipes yet, but we do have tons of people coming over in the next couple of months so hopefully I can put it to good use.  Reading up on all the different cooking/baking blogs just makes me want to be creative...though I have to admit right here and now that it hardly ever looks like the picture in the cook book, sorry I meant to say it NEVER looks like it :)

The road switch in Samoa came and went.  I haven't mentioned it in my blog at all because it just felt like I was hitting my head against a brick wall.  But I will say that just because there haven't been more deaths on the road and with people making comments like "gosh, what was the fuss about?" doesn't mean that it was a good thing.  The Samoan Government has banned the sale of alcohol at a certain time, the early closing time of night clubs and bars as well as enforcing a speed limit, so let's hope all is well enough after things return to normal.  I still stand by my reasons for opposing the switch which were to name a few, that Samoa is a poor developing country surviving on loan after loan from the world bank and various Aid agencies, does that sound like a country who should be flippantly changing sides of the road they drive on?  I also believe there are much more important and pressing items that could do with that money, namely Health and Education, support for the farmers and families to make them more self sufficient.  Oh and the BS about families in NZ being able to send relatives in the islands cars a lot easier.  Of course that's probably true given the proximity of the two countries but maybe the PM missed the memo about it being a global recession or the one where Pacific Islanders are sending more money from NZ to their families in Samoa even though THEY can't really afford to.  Eh, okay, rant over...sorry needed to get that out, whenever I feel particularly ill I get really submissive or angry :)...can you tell which it is today? hehe.

My mother has joined the ranks of Face-book goers...scary scary thought - Now I have to watch what I say on my status update.  I may need to write her a "Dear John" letter about loving her and all, but needing my space lol.  A few of my friends have their parents on Face-book and boy do some of them have their wrists slapped even though they're older than me, like who does that...oh yes Samoan parents hehe.  We shall see how the relationship progresses.

I've really been neglecting my reading and it's showing from my lack of imagination these last couple of weeks :(  I feel so unfulfilled when I don't read, like I'm missing something, like my hand or half my brain.  I only have a couple left over from my little deal I had with Rich which ended at the end of August.  I was getting 2-3 books a week in return for things he was getting from me *sigh* and now I'm almost done, time to strike up another deal with the hubster.  He thinks it's great, though I lay claim to my great haggling skills because 3 books a week?  How brilliant is that?!  We shall have to talk Mr G and I when he returns from his holiday in the sun from the sun ;).

Photo Friday

Photo Friday has been missing in action for a bit on the blog, and what better way to bring it back than a little picture story :)

I never did blog about my trip home for 10 weeks to help out with the family and all the hilarity's that went with it and to be honest, it's so 2 months ago I wouldn't know where to begin or what to write except that it wasn't a holiday, I was always on my feet running after a hyper active 3 year old, working for family and I loved most of my time there. 

So this is My trip in a few Pictures.  Enjoy

 

Home sweet home

I was there for Fatu's 3rd Birthday

I spent a bulk of my time looking after this monkey who spent most of his time in the water

...and I met my little nephew Faitala for the first time and how is that not chocolate melting in your mouth sort of stuff?  Look at him!

I was there during mothers day, we made mum her favourite meal, though I didn't have time to make the trifle, so guess what I'll be making this Christmas?  Check out the lipstick on Fatu :)  We gave away those sweetie leis so that he wouldn't be tempted to ask for any, he's not really allowed sweets.

My weekly trip to the plantation to gather up coconuts for the family - I learnt after the first week that for Fatu, going to the plantation was exactly what it used to be for me when I was younger - a big adventure with so much to do and so many hiding places!

And of course there was the obligatory outing in town with Megs and my did we laugh up a storm :)

Standby birthday crew and other nonsense

The weekend catch up - hopeless since it's almost the next weekend but HEY HO :) 

A friend whose lived here 18 years celebrated her birthday in Dubai for the first time since moving here - can you imagine that?  Her birthday has always coincided with their annual trip to Samoa with the kids, away from the worst of the summer heat here in the desert.  She had been hoping to get on the plane to China with her hubby (who was the pilot) but it was a full flight and she had to come home.

But not to worry, the standby crew were there with cupcakes, music, many bottles of champers, sushi and a wicked sense of FUN.  It was a small crowd of 5 of us, but the poor kids will attest to the fact that it not only felt like there were 50 people but it definitely sounded like it too!

My kids (Axie & Josh) and I made cupcakes, topped with with chocolate icing and some disgusting pinkish freckled looking butter cream which I must confess was made when the supervisor(me) was half cut (4th glass of bubbles I think) and very merry shouting things like "YES KIDS, Put ALL those colours in, the more the merrier" or some sort of rubbish like that.  We topped the cupcakes with candle letters spelling HAPPY BIRTHDAY and these cool colourful tall swirly candles, very pretty.  Surprisingly, no one died after sampling the cupcakes though I can't remember seeing the skinny B's eating any (NOTE to self: That is probably why they are skinnies and I'm the round one lol)  

It was all very civilized, if you don't count the dancing on table tops, the un-ladylike language and the head banging to some rather nifty metal numbers.  Shock of all things unnatural, I had no hangover the next day and proceeded to be hopping from one place to another very much high on probably all the sugar in the midori & malibu I'd been slurping all night long.  

Something I realised the next morning was that I need to teach my kids a thing or two about aunties and their "little" parties.  During the party, Josh had continuously asked me to come up and watch Transformers 2 with him after the party so we could learn a few more super cool moves (because I'm not yet 30 and a responsible adult who sort of works) to use when we next wrestle (all I do is watch...honest).  Then Axie would ask me when the party was finishing because she'd set up the DVD player in her room so we could watch charmed and have a girlie catch up (she's 11 lol)  The sweet thing is, that they thought mummy and aunties party are like the ones they go to.  The ones where the invite looks like this:

The invite clearly states a finish time, so you know you're always going to be picked up or going home at a very specific time.  Now Mummy and aunties parties don't follow the same rules...not exactly.  So instead of going through the varying technicalities of adult and children parties, I felt it would probably be easier to explain it with a visual aid like this:

Notice how child friendly it is with the different colours?  Hopefully that will explain it sufficiently enough so that I won't get any; "But why auntie Nets?" and "How come's?"  

The next day after the birthday party was good for both my sanity and liver.  I went to my scrap booking class (that i have been neglecting) and was very proud to have been called artistic with a good eye for colour.  I don't know how Maryam came to that conclusion becaue the truth is, when we went to pick out the various bits of coloured cardboard, I basically inky inky onky'ed it and picked out what my finger landed on.  And how do you have a bad eye for colour?  Aren't you either colour coordinated or uncoordinated?  Anyhow, it was hilarious watching these two 40 something year olds who fancied themselves a bit of a Michelangelo, battle out who was going to get the big teal button, use the glue gun first and brown nose the most.  Tut tut ladies, you need to get out more!!

I brought home my master piece and Jing promptly put it somewhere obscure prompting another of her games that keeps me occupied anything from a couple of mins to the whole day of "Where the *Bleep* did Jing put the *Bleep* *Bleep* thing now?"

Hope everyone had a good weekend :)

Ramadan Kareem to you

As an Expat in any country, there are many traditions and holidays you will learn about.  As an Expat in a Muslim country like the UAE, one of these is the Month of Ramadan.

Today marks the beginning of Ramadan, when the Koran is believed to have been revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, where Muslims everywhere will fast from Dawn to Sunset.  This generally means no consumption of food, drinking, refraining from smoking and anything indulgent or excessive.  For us non-Muslims, we are not allowed to eat/drink/smoke/chew etc in public.  This does not apply to children, elderly, mentally ill, nursing mothers, pregnant women, those traveling etc.  But they are encouraged to be as discreet as possible if they need to eat and/or drink in Public as a sign of respect for those who are fasting.  The fasting teaches Muslims patience, self restraint and discipline.  

It is a month of Prayers and Reflection, for doing good deeds and spending time with family and friends whilst also remembering those less fortunate than themselves.  As part and parcel, one should refrain from gossiping, hurting others, stealing, being unkind and be generous.

Most eateries are closed until sunset so you need to stock up your cupboards with food and drag your lazy butt off the couch and cook something for lunch and dinner if you don’t want to join the mad dash to restaurants to break fast in the evening.  Although many of my mates hate this time of the month, I actually like it.  

Many are disgruntled, not about eating but more about not being able to drink water in public especially in this heat.  It's not that I don't understand, I do.  However I'm sure that everyone who is  not on the exemption list can just learn to be a bit more prepared for those instances.  If you know you're going to be in the car for more than 20 minutes, make sure you have enough to drink before you leave.  When ever you leave the house make sure you have a bottle of water in your bag to drink from if the need arises, you can always slip into the loo or somewhere hidden.  

It does frustrate me the number of ignorant comments that I get from people like "I don't know why I have to suffer, I'm not a Muslim" or "They are taking my rights away".  I've always tried to stay out of these discussions, more so because, when I do start I probably won't stop and am likely to make a reputation for myself as "that crazy Samoan girl who just went nuts and her head exploded"...not that it's stopped me before, but I know myself well enough to know when to grin and bear it.  Today standing at the super market hearing 2 complete strangers whinging and moaning like there was no tomorrow really upset me.  I suppose it might have been when they said "suffer" for what seemed like the 100th time and "Why should I, I'm not Muslim...blah blah, sit and have a smoke and coffee blah blah" for an equal amount, caused me to turn around and say to them:

"Suffering is what war torn countries go through, what many Africans do without water, food or shelter, what repressed individuals without rights do.  Don't belittle these things because you can't sit at a cafe and drink your mocha-whatever in Starbucks.  And Rights? What about the rights of the People whose country you are living your luxury lifestyle in? The one you're a guest in?  The one you SHOULD have done your homework about before moving, so that you knew it was a Muslim country and certain things would be expected of you...in return for tax-free wage, your minimum wage maid, the air-con that dents the worlds atmosphere one drip at a time whilst you pretend to be green?  Yeah, well you might want to try a little respect, look it up in the dictionary, it comes after ignorance and right before your name"

Oh Lawd, I was embarrassed.  I didn't know where it came from, it was like I had been starved of airspace and just let it out on these 2 what looked like nice enough people. They went and joined another till line(obviously) to pay for their stuff but as they left I heard them say "... posh brit bi*ch..." which made me laugh.  I was at peace after that, I can tell you and of course I texted Rich with the complete conversation immediately word for word.  

Anyway forget them, back to why I actually enjoy this time.

I love the Spiritual feeling I feed off my Muslim neighbours and others around me.  There is a glow in my building, everyone greets me in Arabic with a traditional greeting and I reply saying (after hours of sitting in front of the mirror practicing my pronunciation and demure smile) Ramadan Kareem back.  Everyone tries to be a better person, a kinder and more thoughtful, more forgiving neighbour, friend, family member!

Most of all, I love the underlying message of Ramadan, what it hopes to achieve and all it represents.  I love the message of charity towards those less fortunate, the forgiveness for misdeeds.  I’m really a sucker for “world peace” and “Let’s make love not war”.   There are certain compromises we as Expats have to make so that we can enjoy life here in the UAE as our adopted temporary/permanent home. Personally, Ramadan is less a compromise and more an amazing chance to touch base with a different religion and to experience something that beats at the very core of the foundation of this country.

 

A couple of driving escapades...yes, already :)

Yesterday a friend came over and we went out for coffee (as you do when you're a temporary housewife) and then proceeded to drive around the crazy streets of Sharjah.  Now let me just say that after all these months of sitting in a taxi and being ferried everywhere, it has indeed ill prepared me for the day when I myself would sit behind the magical circular bit of steel and rubber and guide the large chunk of metal along the streets of UAE. 

What an experience!  Horns blaring, dual carriageways occupied by 4 competing cars in a row, a lot of shouting, hazard lights, hand movements, had me dizzy with pleasure!

Now maybe I shouldn't revel in other people's misery and perhaps it would help to not laugh in the face of anger, but BY George it was BRILLIANT.  All these taxi drivers beeping at me to move over so they could overtake when 1) we were already bumper to bumper, so unless he was going to suddenly spring monster wheels out of his derriere he along with the rest of us weren't going to be going anyway in a hurry and 2) the lane next to us was in exactly the same situation.  So what did he do? What any self respecting taxi driver would do, he bullied his way over to the next lane to overtake me from there.  What did I do?  Stayed level with him, let a small gap open in front of me and as he was about to make a move for it, close it again :)  Oh the fun and games.  We kept this up for about 10 minutes and when he finally reached his exit having been foiled by UAE's newest Samoan driver, he looked over at me, made a hand gesture to which I blew him a kiss, the look on his face was PRICELESS!  Sarah and I just started laughing so hard.  It's one of those moments where you had to be there but trust me, it was funny!

That evening, a friend of mine called up.  Her hubby was away, kids are both in boarding school, and she was alone in the house for the first time in 18 years and wanted some company.  Who better to call than me, the temporary housewife, full time entertainer and pseudo husband when the need arises coupled with the fact that I have also started driving; it was a win win situation.  A bottle of bubbly and a packed overnight bag later, I was breezing down the highway, singing to the music complete with emotional expressions in tow.  Barely out of Sharjah a car starts to flash his lights from behind and honk his horn at me.  I'm driving at maximum speed and Speedy Gonzales must be going a hell of a lot more.  Now, the lanes are all packed and it's not safe for me to move over.  Whilst waiting for a gap he starts humping (excuse the expression) my tail flashing his lights and keeping his hand down on his horn.  3 cars later it's safe for me to move over and let him pass.  I forgot there's separate road code for us the commoners and him the arse bandits!! 

The strange thing is that I wasn't even slightly angry which goes against my entire DNA make-up!  I settle back into my lovely drive when 5 minutes later more flashing and more beeping and what d'ya know, it's Speedy Gonzales AGAIN.  Why and how he's ended behind me again I have no idea, but whatever, I quickly move right and let him pass, waving to him as he does so and giving him my biggest sickly smile.  The traffic has slowed down a bit, there's been an incident in the road and everyone is slowing down to have a nosy, take some pictures and generally cause a traffic jam.  The bonus is I get the road all to myself...  

Flash Flash, Beeeeeeeeeep, Beeeeeeeeeeep - but wait, I've spoken too soon because there he is yet again.  He must have slowed down with the rest of the world to have a nosy and now that he was done, he expected everyone to move out of his way so he could continue his Formula 1 bid on the major highway of Dubai.  It would have been very easy for me to let him pass again.  What's a third time right?  As long as everyone's safe right?

Well the road was fairly empty thanks to the sugar spillage so instead I hung around in the fast lane, hitting the speed limit with Speedy Gonzales stuck like glue on my heels and let's be honest, it's not hard to do!  I'm driving a Mitsubishi, he's in a Ferrari!  I put my foot down on the accelerator and I'm climbing from 100 to 110, 120, 130, 140 and like the muppet he is, he's right with me.  Got to love all my Grand Turismo training on the Playstation!  I move suddenly into the next lane and put my foot on the brake to bring it down to 100, wave at Ferrari man as he hurtled pass me with lots of hand gesturing.  The Flash of the speed camera was a thing of beauty as was the crimson red of his brake lights.  Evil I know, but he had it coming and I'm sure if he can afford a Ferrari then he can certainly afford to pay the 700dirhams (£120.00 / $600WST) speed fine.

And whilst he was probably cursing up a storm as he drove on to where ever he was in a hurry to get to, I was driving the last few minutes to my friends laughing my butt off till I cried.