Posted by Kanga.
Our last evening in California was spent with family. Above is the core, parents and sons.
Three generations.
It was a picture taking fest.
DaddyBird and BabyBird had officially said goodbye the day before. It was a nice surprise to see her one more time.
Big, heartfelt hug.
John and Natalie are hardcore Whovians and needed to act out the Dr. Who Weeping Angels.
It’s always nice to see a couple married 51 years holding hands. Even better when they are your in-laws.
Posted by Kanga.
While in California, we spent an afternoon with friends on their ranch. DaddyBird lived on this ranch in the 90′s.
We provided lap services to Cooper and Abbey, which meant there was no lap space for Rowdy and Bigfoot, the Bengal cats.
The outdoor cat (whose name I don’t remember) was incredibly loving and enjoyed being petted.
It was a pleasant afternoon with good friends. Animals and countryside are always good, too.
Posted by Kanga.
I never turn down sushi.
Especially when delivered by boat.
I draw the line at little octopi.
Posted by Kanga.
Boxing day started with a super burrito at a local taquería. This meal carried us through the day.
Followed by a stop by an Indian video shop, where you can also get hand painted pictures on leaves of Jesus or Ganesh. We purchased a few movies to initiate the family. The shop keeper was happy to find out that DaddyBird was well versed in Bollywood movies.
You know you’re in California when there is a wide selection of cooking oils, most organic, in a big box store.
Next day we were in the East Bay area.
Here’s the view from one of the many hills.
And the night view from the same hill.
Posted by Kanga.
Saturday evening we took a stroll in downtown San Francisco to enjoy the sights.
An excellent steel drum band was providing atmosphere.
The figures skating around the tree in this window display included a skating dog.
Union Square was all decked out.
Macy’s had a wreath in every window.
Tiffany had tasteful decorations in the windows.
A San Francisco cable car. I found it interesting that there is the sound of horse hooves clopping. It is the sound of the cable under the surface of the street. It beats against the conduit and sounds like horses.
Then we looked for dinner and chose Maru Sushi. It was quite delicious.
There’s a bag for everyone in this store.
Even the dog.
It was a pleasant, cool, rainy evening. Helped to improve my Christmas spirit.
Posted by Kanga.
I am spending a few days back in my home town. While browsing a local craft fair at the Baptist Church, I was introduced to a friend of a family member. This person had recently seen a TV program on the wonders of Dubai and asked me to tell one story about Dubai. Just one story. My mind blanked. The pressure was on. Just one story. Since it was December 1st, the eve of National Day, I described how they celebrate the nation’s birth 41 years ago. Of course, later I thought of even better stories.
So, readers who are in the UAE, I invite you to comment here and tell us your ONE United Arab Emirates story. How would you represent your experience to the average American?
Posted by Kanga.
On Sunday afternoon, my mother, Marian, ended her 88 year journey through life.
Finding a Mother’s Day card was always a challenge, because she was not the kind, sweet, supportive, and unconditionally loving mother that inspires greeting card sayings. She did, however, teach me many things for which I am grateful.
My mother worked hard. She was almost always in motion. When I was young, we lived on a small family farm and there were few tasks she wasn’t willing and able to do. She planted, tended, and harvested a sizable garden. She spent days canning the extra for the winter months. We were able to eat home grown vegetables and fruits all year round. She milked the cows morning and night when necessary. She even bucked a few bales of hay during summer harvesting time. She baked her own bread eight loaves at a time, kneading the large blob of dough by hand. She churned butter by hand. When she had a few spare moments, she would create clothing, blankets, and slippers. My mother taught me about industriousness.
She wasn’t a feminist, but from watching her in action I learned that women are equal to men. She wasn’t dependent on my father. She worked right along side him, just as hard as he did, contributing to the welfare of the family unit.
My mother made it possible for me to become independent. She was not a “helicopter” mother, nor a “tiger mom.” I learned that decisions worked best when I made them for myself. The consequences are mine, as well.
Mom taught me that laughter can get you through the rough times. She taught me that “pretty is as pretty does,” a maxim I still find reliable. Another gem she passed along – if you are doing something, do it well.
Mom, you have my love and thanks.
Posted by Kanga.
Governments love paperwork, or so it seems. There is no end of forms to fill out and passport photocopies and handwritten log books, etc. The workflow of any organization could be improved 400% by the reduction in unnecessary paperwork.
My advice to anyone embarking on a living/working abroad adventure is to get your documents (marriage certificate, children’s birth certificates, and your college transcripts) “attested” before leaving your country of origin. It is a lengthy process, so start early. It also wouldn’t hurt to get multiple copies of each attested, while you are at it.
For Americans, this involves getting an official copy of the document (from the appropriate state’s vital record department or from your university). This document must then be attested by the Secretary of State for the state in which it is issued and there will be a fee for that. Next, it must be attested by the United States Secretary of State in Washington, D.C., again for a fee. Next, it must be attested by the embassy of the country to which you are moving (in Washington, D.C.), again for a fee. So, if you have done all your living (marrying & birthing) in Washington, D.C., this could be a fairly easy errand involving driving from government office to government office. However, if you married and gave birth in a state 3000 miles away from Washington, D.C., it will be more difficult. Also, if you had the audacity to live, marry, and give birth in multiple states, you are very nearly screwed.
It is possible to do this process by mail, but it will take MONTHS. In fact, the U.S. Department of State warns on its website that the paperwork won’t be processed until 4 weeks after they receive it. Anything received by mail must be irradiated in case it contains bio-hazardous materials (anthrax, etc.).
I recently had to get my college transcripts attested, which I had not done three years ago before leaving the states. To do this via mail was going to take at least 3-4 months. Not viable. So, I went in search of (Googled) paralegal services that might do this for me a bit quicker. A paralegal in Washington state offered to do the state attestation for $250 plus fees & postage. I found a couple of services in Washington, D.C. that do this on a regular basis and were willing to do the complete process for $265 plus postage. They assured me it would only take 2 weeks. We sent it on the 14th and received it on the 28th, so not bad.
Back in 2008 when I had the marriage certificate attested, I didn’t really look at it closely, but now that I’ve gone through this horrendous process again, I actually read the attestation documents.
The marriage certificate is signed by the state registrar. The Oregon Secretary of State then attached a piece of paper which states that the person who signed the marriage certificate is indeed the Registrar of Vital Statistics. It also gives our names and says that the marriage certificate is authenticated. Next, the U.S. Department of State attached a paper which states that the other attached document has the seal of the State of Oregon and is “entitled to full faith and credit.” There’s an asterisk referring to a comment at the bottom of the document “for the contents of the annexed document, the Department assumes no responsibility.” Next, the UAE Embassy turned over the State Department document, affixed a paper stamp, two rubber stamps, and a handwritten signature. One of those rubber stamps states “we certify stamp and signature of US Department of State – not responsible for the contents.”
So, the Registrar of Vital Statistics “signed” the marriage certificate, thereby certifying the contents. (Her signature is printed out, not actually handwritten.) Then, the State certifies the name of the Registrar and that if she signed it, it must be okay. Then the U.S. State Department says, “yep, that’s the seal of the State of Oregon alright.” Followed by the UAE Embassy saying “yep, that’s the US State Department seal/signature alright.”
The university transcripts are a little different. The state attestation was skipped. The transcript is signed by the university’s registrar (again a printed signature, not handwritten) and it has a raised seal impression. This document was then notarized as original by a notary public. Next, the District of Columbia Notary and Authentication Section attached a paper stating that the person who notarized the original is indeed a notary. Then, the U.S. Department of State attached a paper saying “yep, that’s the seal of the District of Columbia, alright.” And, the embassy followed suit with their stamps, etc.
(Governments don’t actually use words like “yep” and “alright,” but you get the idea.)
Considering the amount of fuss, stress, and expense involved, I find these documents rather disappointing. This is just government “make work.” However, one must have these signatures/stamps/seals as was so clearly illustrated recently in the news. A woman gave birth in hospital while her husband was out of the country and because she could not prove that she was married, she went from the hospital straight to detention with her newborn until her husband could produce an attested marriage certificate to get her out.
Seems quite antiquated to be shuffling and rubber stamping these papers in the age of telephones, internet, and comprehensive databases. Couldn’t they just call Big Brother and have him check my dossier?
Posted by Kanga.
One last post of pictures of Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Of course, I couldn’t leave without a picture of a Kangaroo gasoline (petrol) station. As for the price, $3.609 per gallon (13.25 AED); 1 gallon = 3.785 liters.
I’ll let this one speak for itself. There were a couple of lingerie shops nearby, so this could have gone a whole different direction.
We’ve seen a lot of tattoos while here. Usually, on the forearm.
It appears that Sherlock Holmes has been a bad boy and now there’s a price on his head.
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