The Western Region - A visit to Great Unknown

A friend of mine decided to rent a car.  You see, since we've been here we have only used taxi and bus service which is getting rather expensive and is a little limiting.  We went to one car rental place and were told that because we did not have a visitor visa and did not yet have a residence visa we were not allowed to rent a car.  But we found that we could rent one from the hotel (legal?  I'm not asking).  So we each pitched in some money and for about $200 dollars plus gas (which is the equivalent of about $1.50 a gallon!) we got our own car for 6 days.  Mike is sort of the chauffeur - he has a great sense of direction.  We've been to Al Ain (Mike and Rebecca and I) to scope out the town and Mike and I to do some cleaning and appliance shopping.  But I digress.  Today's post is all about our visit on Tuesday to Al Gharbia - the western region.  This region is mostly dedicated to oil, so much of the population is ex-pat.

We headed out of town and immediately went into a vast desert with nothing more than power lines and sand (see the above photo).  The first city we hit was Mirfa.  It is a VERY small town with a mosque and a place to buy food and some housing.  The house pictured to the right is one really nice structure we saw in Mirfa.  This is typical of many homes in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, but were not seen as frequently in the Western Region.

Next we went to Ruwais where my friend Shannon will live.  Again, not much more than a shopping center, a rec center, some housing, hotels and a few schools 2 1/2 hours away from Abu Dhabi.  We found where Shannon will be teaching Kindergarten - a nice but small school in town.  Shannon will live with 4 other teachers in a villa so she will have company - I just hope her company is good.  We found - a ways out of town - a beautiful resort hotel on the beach.  I think she needs to join the club to have pool, gym and beach access - a personal getaway for tough times.



Finally we journeyed back towards Abu Dhabi and hit the town of Madinat Zayed where our other friend Daisha will live.  This town was hopping (in comparison) with a mall, and industrial park and LOTS of men.  It was strange to not see women at all.  We Americans (and Mike the Canadian) were of much interest to the people we passed.  We found a Burger Hut and a Pizza King, so we know Daisha will not starve.  Unlike Shannon, Daisha will get her own apartment, but she did not yet know where so we could not visit it.  Again, a lot of SAND!  On our way home we came upon these oil wells - they burn at the top all night and day.

So, as for me, I'm glad to be in Al Ain, but I think the folks placed in the Al Gharbia region will have a much more authentic experience.  Good luck and God bless!

Grand Mosque Part 2

When you enter the Grand Mosque you must take your shoes off in this area, the outer courtyard.  You can see a beautiful flower design in the marble.  The flowers were used to remind worshipers of the perfect gardens in heaven while they pray.  This courtyard is white marble and is inlaid with precious stones.  It is about the size of a football field, and it is breathtaking.  Before a Muslim enters this area he or she must wash in a ritual cleansing.  They are sure to wash their mouths so they will rid themselves of evil speech (gossip, swearing).  They wash their heads to rid themselves of evil thoughts.  They wash their hands to rid themselves of the actions they may have performed, and then they wash their feet because they are dirty.  After washing they are pure before Allah (God).

This is the prayer rug in the main room of the mosque.  It is the largest singular piece of carpet in the world.  It is woven of New Zealand Wool.  It took 26 Iranian women to craft the carpet.  It was constructed in 9 pieces and then joined together inside of the mosque.  The carpet weighs 35 tons and is 6000 meters squared.

 Here is a close- up picture of one of the inlaid flowers.  This is actually inside of the mosque on a pillar.  Notice the colors?  The stones that are inlaid are mother of pearl, amethyst, jade, onyx, sapphire and . . . I forget the yellow one - sorry!  This method is used to decorate the inside of the mosque (which is air conditioned) as well as the courtyard.

Trip to the Grand Mosque Part One

Here is the Grand Mosque - a view from my hotel window!  I love waking up every morning to see this and at night it is beautifully lit in shades of white and blue.  Every day we can hear the call to prayer 5 times.  Around sunrise is the first call.  The second is around 12:30.  Then there is one around 5:30, one at about 7 and one before bed.   I can't hear it inside, but I usually hear it when I'm at the pool.  They also broadcast the call in malls and stores.  Don't think everyone drops and prays at that exact moment.  It just means they have to pray before the next call.  There are private rooms everywhere (malls, hotels, office buildings) for men and women to pray.  They always pray separately.

This is one of 5 spires that reachers up to heaven from the mosque.  See the gold - it is real gold!  Every day the 5 calls to prayer are sung from this tower - although now it is usually a recording.  The rest of the tower and most of the Mosque is made from marble imported from Greece and Italy.  It is always clean and white!

Here is the group of friends I toured with.  Notice we are all in traditional dress.  Women are required to wear the Abaya and cover their heads. Men can wear whatever they want to tour.  See me there in the middle?  I'm with Mike, Shannon, Daisha and Rebecca.  We had a great time and learned so much information.  I will be sharing more about the Mosque in my next post!

The Most Amazing Desert Safari EVER!!!

If you come to Abu Dhabi, you must do the desert safari.  Let me take you through it.  The Driver picks you and 5 other passengers up at the hotel.  He drives you out into the desert.  Then you wind farther into the desert where the dunes begin.  He drives you up the dunes, and then you slide back down, hoping you won't roll over.  Sometimes you jump over dunes, and if you are not wearing a seatbelt you will get bruises.
The Land Rover stops at a camel farm where they live in a semi wild state.  They are pretty tame, though.  After a visit with the camels we get back into the vehicle for more "dune bashing".  Just when you feel like your stomach can take no more, we stop again at the camp.  Here we get to ride camels and sand boards (not me for the sand board).

After that they ushered us into the enclosed area, and sunset began.  It was fun to sit around and have sodas and water and watch a desert sunset.  Then Iftar (breaking of the fast) began.  We had hummus, pita bread, lentils, taboli, kabobs which appeared to be beef and chicken and lamb.  There was a warm cole slaw and a mixed vegetable dish, as well.  For dessert they had baklava and fruit.  It was an amazing dinner and nobody seemed to care about the sand in our teeth, shoes, eyes, clothes, etc.  Usually after dinner there is belly dancing and henna tattoo art, but because it is Ramadan, they did not have those things.   Maybe that is why this whole evening was a bargain at just $35!!!  Really! 

Ramadan Kareem

It's very interesting to visit an Arab country during Ramadan (this year Ramadan falls on August 1-30, but it moves back 12 days each year).   Ramadan is the holy month here, and during daylight hours (5:30 am to 7 pm) nobody eats, drinks, smokes, chews gum, gossips, thinks bad thoughts . . . you get the idea.  It is against the law to eat or drink in public during this time, but in a hotel room it is ok for non-muslims to do the activities listed above.  The reasoning is to deprive themselves and feel what the poor must feel (hunger and thirst) on a daily basis.  They make offerings to the poor and hand out food and water on street corners.

But, come 7 pm, Iftar begins - the breaking of the fast.  Malls and stores and movie theaters and almost everything stays open until 2 or 3 am, and people flock to shop, visit, and eat.  Many restaurants have all you can eat Iftar buffets.  People dress in their finest and party!  In private homes women work all day to cook and clean and create the perfect Iftar for their family and friends.  The idea is to provide more hospitality than any of your friends.

The pictures above represent the decorations displayed during Ramadan.  Outside you see blue and white lights.  Inside you see candles and lots of live flowers and plants.  It's really beautiful!  

Got My Apartment Today!

Here are some pictures of my new apartment in Al Ain, UAE.  It is beautiful and has 3 bedrooms.  The only problem is that here you have to supply your own appliances - stove, fridge, etc.  Was not expecting to have to use furniture money for that!  All in all, the UAE and I are getting along very well.  Most days average about 110 and I'm proud to say my body is adjusting!  In the next few days I'll be posting a lot - some free time before orientations next week.  I'll tell you about my visits to the Grand Mosque, the Expo center, and the desert safari!

The People of the UAE

Here in Abu Dhabi the people have proven to be friendly and helpful.  It is considered rude to ask someone to take their picture, and if you do ask they are supposed to politely refuse as that is their custom.  They feel they are to keep hidden, thus the native costume, the Abaya ( or in more traditional families, the bur qua.)  So, in my blog you will not see many pictures of adults in native garb.  But, as I was sitting in a cafe eating with some friends, two very lovely ladies caught my eye.  They came to our table as one of them thought I had been her teacher.  We chatted for a moment and I asked them if I could take a photo to share with my American friends.  They replied, "show only to friends, not on Facebook".  So, true to my word I am sharing this with you, my friends.  I also met a famous male talk show host (like Oprah)  in the mall.  He was interviewing for his show.  He, also let me take his picture because he is a TV star here in the UAE.  So, here he is in a Kandu with me!  Notice his head dress.  Some men here wear red ones, and some white.  I asked if there was a difference, and was told it is just a matter of taste and has no meaning.

I understand that it will not be likely to become friends with the native people (except, of course, the kids I teach).  They are a very closed society with very strict rules.  Men and women, even those in a family, usually live in separate areas of their homes.   I only hope to represent Americans as people who are kind, patient and helpful.

I'm Here in Abu Dhabi - I Really Made It!

Hello and Ramadan Kareem from Abu Dhabi.  It was a long journey, but here I am, and I now KNOW that this was meant to be!  My trip over was long, but Qatar Airlines is so wonderful.  Every need you have is met with a smile.  I sat with two young ladies (13ish) from Afghanistan.  They mostly ignored me and chatted in their own little world, but that was ok with me.  I only got about 2 hours of sleep on the flight, but I think I watched 2 movies and a few TV shows. 

Landing in Abu Dhabi made it all real.  I walked off the plane into the wall of humidity and it was 95 degrees at 12 a.m..   By the time I got to my hotel it was nearly 2.  We had to get our visas, have a retinal scan done,  go through an abbreviated version of customs and get our luggage.  From then on we were treated like royalty!  They loaded us (125 + teachers) on to busses, put our luggage on trucks and whisked us away to a wonderland known as The Fairmont Hotel.  When our busses pulled up there were 75-100 hotel employees out front lined up to greet us.  They checked us each in to our rooms and when we got to the room our luggage arrived within 30 minutes. 

Now, I’m trying to brag, but the rooms here are AMAZING!  My view is the Arabian gulf  (we call it the Persian Gulf) and the Grand Mosque.  At night it was a spectacular view, and in the day just as beautiful!  I still can’t believe that they are treating us so well!  I’ll post pictures of the room later once I figure out my camera.  In my next post I’ll tell you all about my first day in Abu Dhabi.  

My First Post from my New MacBook Pro and probably my LAST post from the USA!

I got this new MacBook Pro because I needed a laptop to take and both my brother, Jay and my tech guru friend Sharon suggested I invest.  SO glad I did!  The apps and features are fabulous, and the tech support is the best I've ever used.  After a one-hour class today I feel right at home in the world according to Mac!

Now, on to the Journey.  I leave this Thursday and I'm really nervous.  I must say that the Facebook reports back from the first group of teachers to arrive are happy news.  They have been treated very well and are staying in a beautiful 5-star hotel.  I just hope I'm so lucky.  Here is a link to the hotel they got:
www.theyashotel.com

So for now, goodbye, and the next post will be from the other side of the planet . . .

Insha'Allah, or God willing!