Office Space

I haven't written a new blog entry in such a long time, I almost forgot my password! Unfortunately, I haven't had much to write about now that I'm an adult and work full time. I miss my days of being a bum. I would really miss it if it weren't for the fact that I had watched every season/episode to date of mad men, watched all the new movies, and find myself hard pressed to stay amused. Alhamdulilah, I have been had the great opportunity to intern with PwC here in Dubai. It has been an amazing experience. I've learned new things, met new people, and learned that apparently the British have a bunch of different spellings and grammar rules than Americans. I can't wait till I no longer have to write colour, globalisation, realise, favourite, or mum.

My days in my cubicle are filled with hours of facebook and finding great recipes on foodnetwork.com. As the intern, I'm usually left to my own devices till I am needed; which is fine by me. Some days my cubicle is my friend, sometimes I feel like its a dementor from Harry Potter and is literally sucking my soul from me. 5 days a week I sit down to the same sight: a cup of coffee, my company laptop, and facebook.

 

I work with such a multinational, multicultural group of people. Its like the UN with all the different faces and languages spoken. As the only American and only Libyan in my office, I find myself needing to represent both of the rich cultures that describe and define me. So I've pimped out my humble cubicle so there is no guessing or denying my background. 

Its all pretty dull but a priceless experience nonetheless. I finish the internship at the end of January and Insha'Allah will be home in March. That leaves the month of February to get back to being a tourist, finish up my Dubai ''to-do'' list and start the blog back up. Thank you to my loyal readers. Sorry its been so long. Good things happen to those who wait!

New Plan

I've been in Dubai for what seems to be a lifetime; really its only been a little under three months. I've traveled to far away lands, drunk camel milk, and frequented the worlds largest shopping mall. My trip was to draw to a close on November 29th, but something came up. I was given the opportunity to intern at a consulting firm here in Dubai. With similar opportunities in the States being nearly nonexistent, I knew it would be a waste to pass it up. So I've signed on to stay for an additional three months making my tentative return to America sometime in February.

 Of course this has its advantages, such as avoiding freezing and dreary winter weather, but also its disadvantages. I really miss my family and my friends. Mentally, I was prepared to come home at the end of November. I am very lucky to have an opportunity such as this, but I can't help think of all the things I will miss out on. My friend is getting married, the undie run at the end of the semester, and Christmas lights. I love Christmas. People are always so nice and there seems to be a general air of good will about. All that aside, I will put on a happy face and just start a new count down!

So now that I'm all employed and what not, I'll try my best to continue to blog. Frequency will probably drop as I won't have time to be exploring as much as I was. Hopefully there will be new things to talk about like winter in Dubai and New Years.

The Dubai Fountain

Where the back of Dubai Mall there and the Front of Burj Al-Khaleefa meet there is a "lake". Really its just a 900ft long, 4 foot deep chlorine pool. Nightly, from 6 to 11, there is a fountain show that goes off every 30 mins. It is the world's LARGEST dancing fountain (just another 'world's largest' Dubai can boast) shooting 22,000 gallons of water 500ft in the air.

 Last night we had dinner at a delicious water front Italian restaurant and watched 3 shows all showcasing 3 different pieces of music and ensembles. It was SPECTACULAR. If you are in Dubai YOU MUST SEE THESE FOUNTAINS. I can't explain how majestic it was, so I'll just show you a video. 

                                                      Part 1

                                                                          Part 2

Economy...FAIL!

For the last two or so years, it has become a guarantee that when you read or watch the news, US or international, you will hear about crumbling economic conditions. This has become a very real and apparent situation in Dubai. This city-state, founded on speculation and investment on the promise of large future returns, was hit very hard by the economic turn down. A few months ago Dubai's economic struggle almost became one of epic proportions when it nearly failed to pay its first installments on massive loans. A default of this size would be disastrous not only to Dubai but to other economies as well.

Signs of the turn down aren't only apparent to those who follow economics or the news, but can be seen just driving down the street.

Only a year ago, cranes use to cram the skyline. Buildings were going up as fast as was humanly possibly. Today, only few dot the view. Construction equipment, like those above, sit in endless rows, unused filling empty parking lots. Tens of thousands of laborers, engineers, and construction workers were sent home.

Massive projects slated to begin were halted. Below is the proposed "Dubailand" Universal Studios amusement park that only got as far as an entrance arch. The project is suppose to resume when funding is available. Till then, the acres of land sit sandy and empty.

Universal Studios archway

It is however projected that the economy of Dubai has the worse behind it. It should start to make slow but gradual incline. By 2015 everything should be right back where it was.  As for the American economy, thats another story.

Old McDonald had a Farm

Through out my blogs I keep saying how I have learned and experienced so much while abroad. I've become more aware of not only different places and faces, but I've been exposed to things that have made me learn new things not just about different countries, but also about the U.S.

Today, Hend and I were grocery shopping and she bought this huge bag of oranges. I didn't understand why she would buy so many when I was sure they weren't going to be ripe. I told her "Hend, its not the season, they wont be sweet."  Winter is the season for oranges, everyone knows that. She shrugged and told me "Its Winter somewhere." It was true, the oranges came from South Africa and they were delicious. 

One of the things that has become very salient to me is how protected the American agricultural business and American farmers really are. The American agricultural business is essentially under lock and key to foreign markets. American farmers are very protected. With few exceptions of South American products, most fruits and vegetables are home grown. The reasons behind this are many, but fall under two categories: National Pride or Economics. 

Being the desert, Dubai has to ship in all of their resources, but there is a benefit to all this. I've become a world citizen vis-a-vis the grocery store. I've eaten apples from Brazil, watermelon from Iran, tomatoes from Malaysia, onions from Holland, potatoes from Jordan, grapes from Italy, broccoli from the US, carrots from India, and peaches from Morocco. Its amazing to taste all these fruits and vegetables from different places. The varieties are slightly different than ones grown in America. 

Yet another opportunity in Dubai, I wouldn't have in the US! 

How can I not help you?

As an American Passport holder, I get an automatic entrance visa into the U.A.E. for 30 days. If I wish to stay longer, I have to exit the U.A.E. and reenter to get an additional 30 days. I can continue to do this with no limits imposed and  until I leave for good; it is free of cost. So here is my question; if they aren't going to charge me a fee and will automatically unlimitedly renew my visa, why hassle me in exiting and reentering? I can see no benefit. Since I can't personally restructure the policies of U.A.E. tourism I'll simply comply. Today I headed out to Oman to exit and reenter to obtain an additional 30 days.

It was a 54 mile drive that had some of the most spectacular views, it was almost worth the hassle. The difference in geography between the U.A.E. and Oman is crazy. Where the U.A.E. is crazy national geographic sand dunes, Oman is mountainous like the Rockies.

 Oman also has  a lot of  "Wadi" which are valleys. Currently because of the hot summer months they are dried up, but once the rain season starts they will fill with lots of water. It can be dangerous sometimes because the water over flows and can run into the roadway and catching motorists in the flow.

Can't say we didn't warn you!

Driving to Oman, and away from the bustling city, I began to really feel like I was in an Arab country. With the modern feel of Dubai, you forget you aren't in the Western world. With every mile we drove, it was as if we were going back 10 years.  I felt like I was in Geryan, my hometown in Libya. Humble homes, small  mom and pop shops, old cars (most are stalled), and hand made pottery being sold on the street all made me feel like I was in a place I already knew.

It was a great drive and a neat mini-adventure. I now have one more visa stamp in my passport and an additional 30 days to enjoy the U.A.E.

Until next month....

Slow Down

So far in my trip I have had an amazing time Al-Hamdulilah. I've seen so much, eaten crazy stuff, and finally went to a water park. I am half way through my trip and the rate of seeing new things is slowing quickly. Dubai has begun to feel normal or homey to me. The glitz and adventure have worn down a bit. It seems I keep doing the same things over again, eating at awesome restaurants, going to obscenely large shopping malls, and spotting $300,000 cars everyday.

I'm finding its harder to find things to blog about. I've completely run out of pictures. If you were waiting for me to get back home so you can see my photos, tough luck. There are a few things on the horizon, but it will be a bit flat line for awhile. Know that I haven't neglected my blog, I simply don't have anything to write about. I've spent the last few days watch Mad Men.

More adventures are coming Insha'Allah!  Soon, I'll have to start a count down for coming home, eeek!