Life Springing Up in the Desert

Posted by Kanga.

It has been a wet winter. The proof is in the grass sprouting up from the sands.

It’s a regular camel banquet.

There are even flowers.

The Bad Thing About Living Abroad

Posted by Kanga.

The bad thing about living abroad is the transient nature of the expatriate community. One makes friends and then some of them move away, either going back to their home country or to another country. We’ll miss them when we gather with friends at our favorite restaurants. They will miss out on board game tweet ups. We’ll be watching for their cat and baby photos on Facebook. Consolation comes from the fact that we still have friends who have been in country so long that we can count on them staying.

The good thing about this is that we now have friends in multiple countries that we can visit during our vacations.  I wish we had more vacation time.

Shopping Wonders

Posted by Kanga.

Not culturally sensitive, to say the least.

Didn’t we get over this fashion statement back in the 1980′s? Plaid shirt and down vest? Really?

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, these are unlined rain coats being sold in an arid desert country. When it rains here, and it does, you don’t go out for a stroll. It rains hard and there is thunder and lightening. People have been struck dead while walking in the rain.

This just amazes. It is a dish scrub sponge shaped like Diana Ross with the sponge serving as her afro hairdo.

One Representative Story

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?

Sharjah International Book Fair

Posted by Kanga.

It is time once again for the Sharjah International Book Fair. It is even larger this year.

We dropped in to see a demonstration of digital artwork by our friend, Ashraf Ghori.

In addition to miles of books, there were some traditional dance demonstrations.

The book fair is on through Saturday November 17th. We highly recommend it. Wear your best walking shoes and eat a hearty meal, you’ll need your strength.

Groceries Again

Posted by Kanga.

Apparently, if I buy this cereal, open the box, find the special code, and enter it online, I will have a chance of winning a tube of lipstick. Hmmm….

Dish Drop doesn’t conjure pictures of wise dish handling, but the bottle looks happy.

Stone Ground Nacho Rock Salted Tortilla Chips seems like quite a mouthful. So does Stone Ground Stars Traditional Tortilla Chips . I think I will just call them Saloon or Jail flavored.

The catalogue section of DVDs – what does this mean? Also, notice what movies make it into this country, uncut – Sin City, Pulp Fiction, etc. There was a copy of American Beauty, too.

A Balance of Patience and Persistence

Posted by Kanga.

Part of me wants to sing the praises of health care here and say it is much better than back in the States, but that isn’t true. It is just different. It has different challenges and different advantages.

The big advantage is being able to be seen right away or at least same day. You may have to wait awhile, but they will get you in. This is in contrast to the States and having to call for an appointment, that, if you are lucky, is a week away or waiting until after 6 pm so you can go to “urgent care.” (Nothing quite like having a urinary tract infection and they want you to wait a week to see the doctor or having a lump in your breast and having to wait two weeks before you can get a mammogram to determine whether it is benign or killing you.)

The most prominent challenge is that you have to be both patient and aggressive to get what you need. In the States, clinics and hospitals are very structured and have built in barriers to keep the patients contained and controlled. There are several layers of employees between you and the doctor and their job is to make sure you stay in line. It is very clear where the “public areas” of a clinic are versus the inner sanctum of the exam rooms, labs, etc. There is a certain organizational benefit to this structure. Patients wait their turn, get treated equally, and know their place. There’s a certain comfort in that. It involves a great deal of patience and NO aggressiveness. Aggression is frowned upon.

There is a semblance of this structure here, but not the reality. There are receptionist desks, waiting rooms, nurses, etc., but none of them pose a barrier to waltzing into the exam room unannounced. In fact, the receptionist might tell you to go straight to the radiology department and ask them to perform your test without a doctor’s involvement. Of course, the radiology department will send you back to the receptionist, because you don’t have a health card and they can’t do anything until you have a health card or a number in their system. The doctor may examine you, then send you off to radiology and the lab for tests and tell you to just come back after you finish there and she means “just come back to the exam room and come on in.” I knocked and waited, because some habits cannot be shed so easily.

There will also be a dearth of signage, directions, and clear communication. When sent back to radiology for the third time to insist on getting the test done today, not next week, and dropping the name given by the doctor of the person who said the test could be done today, you may be waved on in a general manner down the hallway with no real indication of where to find this person who will do the test. So, after knocking on doors and asking random people, you join the collection of patients waiting in the makeshift waiting area and hope for the best. When someone new comes along and starts shaking hands and maneuvering for his wife to be next, you have to step up your game and make sure you get in next. After the test is done, don’t expect the technician to politely tell you that the test is done and that you can get dressed now, but she will act surprised when she finds that you are still laying on the table because she hasn’t told you. When you ask if there is paperwork that you should wait for, she will give you a vague answer which leaves you waiting outside the door hoping that it is not for naught. When you go to get your blood drawn for tests, there won’t be good signage or a reception desk. You are supposed to just poke your head in the rooms until you find someone willing to take your blood.

Then it is back to the doctor for the wrap up. Finally, you are given medication prescriptions and can call it a day. It only took from 9:00 a.m. to 12:33 p.m.

We had to go to the government run clinic because the private hospital didn’t have the staff on duty (holidays) who could do the ultrasound, so our insurance didn’t count. Out of pocket expenses: 200 AED to get a number in the system, 80 AED for the blood tests, 100 AED for the ultrasound. ($103.50) Prescriptions purchased at a RX across town – 187 AED ($51.00). I am fairly certain you could not get all that for $154.50 in the States.

The upshot is that there is no deep vein thrombosis, only a minor infection. Back to business as usual.

Fujairah Sunset

Posted by Kanga.

There was no bull butting today, due to the holiday, but there was a lovely sunset.

No Lingerie For You

Posted by Kanga.

I am puzzled. There are many, many lingerie shops, especially in Dubai (not so much in Fujairah) and, yet, the only thing sold at Victoria’s Secret is perfume.

One of the things that we found surprising in our first week in the country was the contrast in the malls where there will be abaya and gown stores right next to lingerie stores (displaying some pretty naughty stuff in the windows). These stores display things that I have never seen at a Victoria’s Secret (U.S.) store. More along the lines of Frederick’s of Hollywood.

Desert Fog

Posted by Kanga.

There were at least two foggy days in Dubai last week. Generally, this does not affect us in Fujairah, but we both had to go to Dubai on Thursday, I for work reasons and DaddyBird for the dentist.

So, we got to experience the fog.

Driving was a challenge. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of drivers who pulled over to the side of the road. Those who continued to drive slowed down. This may seem like common sense to you, Reader, but the UAE is known for it’s 35+ car pile ups.

If you want to see a video of the fog from the topside – click here. Nature is amazing.