atlantis

very cool. wish i could have seen this live!

masha'alla

I remember a while back going on a rant of sorts about Dubai possessing the largest (fill in blank). It's no surprise that today they announced holding the new Guinness World Record for having the largest Acrylic Panel. I can only hope that a country on such a brilliant and fast track to being the biggest and best at everything will soon announce their cure for cancer/AIDS/world hunger/turrets syndrome...

read more about the Dubai Mall here

si se puede

It blows my mind from having been home for just a few short weeks how politically inspired and driven we are as Americans. Considering that the UAE is more or less a benevolent monarchy where citizens and expats alike keep their minds free of partisan views of any kind, the bright side of our circus-like political culture is getting to create art like this. Regardless of your political bias, I felt the above was worth sharing.

home

Well, good news is that I am home safely. The trip back was quite a journey but I managed to get here in one piece. I neglected to recount tales of my last few days in Dubai since the last couple weeks have been rather consumed by goodbyes and lots of running around. I took many pictures so I'll be sharing those soon, but the good news is that i transitioned out of my last role peacefully despite concerns over labor laws and legal restrictions against expats. I have another opportunity in place that will be taking effect soon but firm dates are not yet set in stone. I will keep updates on here since there is always news to report about Dubai and life in general.
Namely, the day after I left an earthquake rocked Iran which took effect in Dubai! In fact the building that I will be working in was evacuated today around 3 PM where people were likely stuck outside and subject to the afternoon heat, many of them on empty bellies during Ramadan. no fun. Fortunately everyone I know is alive and well, but I cant imagine how scary it must have been working on the Burj Dubai during such a quake. This is a view from the 150th floor taken by my friend Matt who's been working on the tower for 2 1/2 years.

HopFest!

Something I've been looking forward to since before I'd even arrived in Dubai was the Irish Village Hopfest. The Village is a popular place we often venture to after work for a frothy pint of Stella. Their annual beer festival showcases beers from all over the world with 120 varieties. This turned out to be quite the 3-day event, although I only made it to Thursday night after work since the presumably sun-soaked 3 hour wait on Friday (4 PM, mind you) did not seem worth the wait with breweries and the Wegman's beer room creeping up on the horizon in just a few weeks.

To say the least, I'm glad I attended, albeit for even just one day. Aside from the amusement of tasting hops as they were meant to be tasted, the live irish band, authentic saw dust shavings at our feet, and lively crowd, actually finding black snot (sorry, gross) in my kleenex the next day pretty much summed up the kind of night we had...

gray area

My reluctance to post over the last week or so can be partly blamed on the somewhat discrepant legal "system" here, particularly as it relates to expats and their labor rights. Basically, there are lots of loop holes that people face when they leave a company and try to switch over to a new position or simply need to leave. As of July 31st, some new laws were put into effect that complicated the legal "understanding" of the labor law even more. Complications are usually more the employer's fault versus the Ministry's fault, which makes everyone's case different.

My situation: I'm officially finished with my current employer as of the end of the month (woohoo!). Mind you, the experience has been incredible and the friendships I've made and bridges I built were well worth the sacrifices I made along the way, etc etc. In the end, however, as most people quickly find when they arrive to the UAE, there are so many opportunities to grow in this market and usually your first working experience here is a stepping stone to assimilate to the culture, get to know the place, scratch below the surface, and move into something more fulfilling.

As lovely as this sounds and complies to the normal progression of a growing professional in the US, things don't really play out as easily on my side of the pond.
Namely:
1. When you switch jobs here, you are immediately subject to a 6 month or one year labor ban. This means that you can enter the country as a tourist, but you are prohibited from legally acquiring a work visa for the ban period.

2. Upon cancellation of your work visa, you have 30 days to leave the country. Upon returning, you resume tourist status and are limited (as of July) to a 30 day stay

3. You can get around the so-called "ban" by requesting a Non Objection Certificate (NOC) from your current employer to transfer your visa status to a new sponsor, but the chances of this happening are slim.

4. The only way to jump into a new job with no "ban" limitation and no "NOC" in hand involves getting sponsorship from a company located in one of the "free zones" which operate under their own employment and labor contracts (Jebel Ali Zone, Dubai Airport Zone, Dubai Media City Zone, etc).

Let's just say that I'll never take that delightful 2-week notice period for granted if I'm back home and feel like jumping jobs in a week's time.

Trying to understand how this whole process works takes a bit longer than swallowing 4 bullet points. Here's what's been "auto-filling" my web browser for the past couple weeks. Consistent with the UAE culture in general, you can't really get a straight answer even if you ask for one point blank. There's no black and white, yes or no, underlined and written on paper definition no matter how hard you look...
Official UAE Labor Law
Ask the Law
Legal Q&A

who let the dogs out

"The head of Riyadh’s religious police recently complained to city fathers that the “phenomenon” of dog-walking was “becoming more and more acceptable”.

Not only that, added Othman al Othman, it is “being taken advantage of by some young men in a way that conflicts with the rules and regulations of Islam”.

The young men, it seems, were “using cats and dogs to make passes at women and pester families”, Mr Othman told Al Hayat newspaper." - The National, August 10

Come on, really? Maybe our dearest Othman the Othman knows a little too much about the subtle effectiveness of dog walking. He is a clever one...

I do bag my own groceries...

bosphoral fun

Stories to follow this photo diary of my adventures in Turkey. Istanbul, may I note, is highly underrated and I could not have envisioned a more splendid place. See for yourself...

Istanbul

constantinople

I've neglected to recount tales of fairy book wedding adventures, fried eggs, a new house mate, and the most recent developments that have turned into a 7:45 AM departure tomorrow to Istanbul! I am very excited to see Turkey. I've always wanted to visit but wasn't quite sure when I'd get a chance. I'll be going for work but staying the long weekend for fun. Today marks a very special holiday on the Islamic calendar that I will share more details about when I return. Just wanted to share the update and promise to post pictures and stories when I return.

To recap on the last 10 days or so:

I attended a very traditional UAE wedding that lasted about 3 days. Pictures to follow, but here's a peek at the stage that the bride hangs out on the entire night before her husband arrives around midnight to claim her and sweep her away...
It reached over 125 degrees outside on Saturday and I was bored so here's how I killed time - note that this picture was taken on our courtyard patio 30 minutes after the eggs were cracked.

Moments later this guy angry fellow crashed into the side of my house. I have now claimed it as my pet. If you know anything about helmeted guineafowls besides what's on the internet, feel free to share. I'm still trying to decide on a name...

these bastards

By visiting These Bastards you waive your right to petition its creators for return of the time you will inevitably squander reading their bullshit invective."From the maker of WitSL comes a new breed of broken, lowbrow news with perhaps a splash or two of whiskey and gin in between keystrokes... Consider this the delicious "cigarette break" of my recently dwindling appetite for (American) political commentary.

now would be a good time to insert tongue firmly in cheek before they do

too cool for a lame blog post title

In 2006 I went to Seattle for the first time and had a chance to check out Bumbershoot, which was an awesome lineup of musicians from all over the country, including one of my favorites who ended up headlining the last night, Zero7. I looked for footage of that performance soon after but all I could find were a few amateur clips including this one during the show when some random guy got up on stage and started dancing with Sia. I figured it was part of her Somersault line dancing routine, but apparently I was mistaken...


Our friend on stage was up to much bigger things than a simple 30 seconds of fame


Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

if you like pina coladas...

Although The Sun may put out some wildly outrageous and over exaggerated news, it can sure tell a hell of a story.

Stealing headlines for the last week has been a story about two British expats that had a little too much fun at Friday brunch and ended up getting caught during a late night romp on the shores of the Jumeirah beach. The story has gotten pretty ugly and they could be facing up to 6 years in jail if convicted.

Let me add that Friday brunch is nothing like Sunday brunch in New York. Although people often plan ahead, organize friends, call and make reservations, this is no eggs benedict and pancake with whipped cream affair - Friday brunch involves a hefty down payment of usually around $40 to $100 of all you can eat and drink deliciousness. The higher end of the bargain can land you in a 5 start hotel with pink champagne, bottomless pitchers of mojitos, sangria, and more, with everything you would ever want to wrap your tastebuds around from Belgian waffles, whose roomy squares can accommodate the meatiest pieces of lobster and filet mignon, and unlimited fat belly tuna sushi picked fresh from the hotels private aquarium... Let's just say it's tasty but very dangerous if you don't plan your drinks right.

We had our own little brunch at Double Decker on Friday, which may not have been as fancy, but the rowdy UK expats made up for the lack of quality entertainment, as you'll soon be able to understand after clicking on the photo below for the full "michelle palmer" saga:

Team America

Team America

So maybe we missed out on face painting, and sunny parades, marching bands, baton throwers, sparklers, and red white and blue rice crispy treats, but we still managed to pull together some festive colors, potato salad, (pork!) ribs, and neil young.

hands off!

One of the most difficult things about transitioning into Middle Eastern culture was learning how to draw the line at a hand shake. Coming from a family that expresses itself through physical affection, you can imagine how disturbed I was after learning that kissing, "inappropriate" hugging, and spooning on the beach in the UAE can land you in jail or even get you deported. In fact, two women were arrested a few weeks ago for cuddling on the beach! I've always loved this picture, but if it had been taken in Sharjah, there would have been police officers waiting in the wings to handuff that filthy sailor and send him away!

Here's an article from The National with the latest updates on the government's "crackdown".

i pity the fool!

My good friend Paul is a journalist with Dubai's "free" paper that publishes sensational news and can be found just about everywhere in the UAE. Today he did a story covering the latest rumors that "A-team" is going to be filming in Dubai. I really enjoyed this, although you kind of need to have lived or visited the city to get all the tongue in cheek references made. If you aren't smiling the whole way through, consider it another reason to come and visit! Click on Mr. T to read the full article.

yondergrrrl

Early to bed, early to rise today. Not sure if it was the excitement of lady liberty's much anticipated and celebrated birthday or just the need for a good night's sleep. I've spent the morning catching up on emails, lacing up for a nice run, and in just a few moments I'll be preparing my mom's famous corn bread recipe and a tray of brownies for the 4th of July bash we are throwing. Thinking of other staple goodies, I'm going to head to the store in search of ranch dip and ruffled chips, doritos, and rice crispies.

I've been enjoying the likes of Yonderboi, The Dining Rooms, and classic Samba music from my youth. Yonderboi's Shallow and Profound album is a fabulous twist of low-fi, acid jazz with a dose of Edit Piaf-esque vocals and Hungarian flare. I've shared it with a few friends who've enjoyed it as well. Click on his picture below for a listen...

ole, ole ole ole...

You would not believe how wired this city is at the moment. viva espana! off I go to watch the euro 2008 finals...

free fallin'

All this talk of Umm Al Quwain reminded me to post footage of our 10,000 ft jump in December when Mike was in town. Nothing beats a bird's eye view of the Persian Gulf at sunset...

marvel

this is my neighborhood, not a preview to the next summer blockbuster. i know i posted about the rotating tower already, but this was too cool to pass up.

unda da sea

Umm Al Quwain just keeps getting better. We first found it about 2 1/2 weeks into this gig when the Barracuda Beach Resort opened its sliding doors to thirsty Americans looking for an underground place to satisfy a scotch craving. Frequented just about every month for the usual case of Miller lite and Sailor Jerry's Spiced Rum, Umm Al Quwain soon became our spot for skydiving in December. Little did I know that crab hunting would also land on my "to do" list for the Emirate. Not only do I love crabs, but I can't imagine anything more fun than spearing for them in the Arabian Sea followed by a crab boil with friends.
check it out.

you spin me right round baby, right round..

Dubai will be unveiling the first ever rotating tower, 68 floors of awesomeness:

My favorite part of the article:
"Each of the villas will have designated parking on the same floor with vehicles brought up and down in special elevators. The roof of the 'Penthouse' villa will also have a swimming pool, a garden and an Arabian majlis. For a quick return home, the tower will have a retractable heliport, a platform that will extend from the shell of the building at the 64th floor at the moment of landing, thus maintaining the ergo-nomics of the tower."

euro 2008

The last three nights have been consumed by heineken drafts, double decker, and European soccer. Considering that 80% of the population here is expat and most of those expats are European, you can only imagine how wild the city is right now with Sweden playing Spain, Greece playing Russia, Croatia playing Germany (amazing game). I never cared much about the World Cup aside from the 1994 games when we were living in Guatemala and going to dinner with my family would turn into us waiting for our food while the sound of Spanish-speaking broadcasters echoed "goalgolgolgolgol...." from a 10 inch tv in the back of the restaurant. Soccer has completely cut into my productivity, but rightly so with the pulse of Dubai at the moment. Every pub and street corner is packed with people from all over the world supporting their team. It amazes me now after seeing this why Americans can't live and die for soccer the way everyone else seems to. Ironically enough, all the sports anchors here are from England, which sadly did not even qualify for the tournament!

i do

This was a nice compliment to my coffee this morning. Another reason why getting married scares the crap out of me.

sheikh killed the radio star?

Whoa, it's been over a week since I last posted! They always say that you don't feel the time in Dubai and I'm starting to realize it right now with my feet starting to tingle from not having sat down all day. I just took over a couple major product lines for Johnson and Johnson in the Middle East, which is really exciting but quite an addition to my workload. Either way, tonight I was looking to unwind on the way home with the usual flip between Dubai 92 and Dubai One 104.1 and was shocked to hear DeBussy's Clair de Lune instead of the usual UK top 40. Last night Sheikh Nasser bin Zayed passed away in a helicopter crash - he is the brother of the UAE's President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed. I can safely say that I've never experienced or will experience again living in a place where everything shuts down for three days of mourning, including television and radio stations in memory of a political figure. Let's just say that people here do not take such losses lightly. You can read a bit more about Sheikh Nasser here.

Looking back on the last week, my boy Ahmed Bukhatir rocked it out at the concert he had. Mind you, he was singing Islamic hymns in a cappella, but they sounded great nonetheless. I also had a chance to attend a really crazy and out of this world desert rave on Friday night called SOS in the Desert.

The evening involved a 1 1/2 hour bus ride to the middle of nowhere in the desert, followed by a 10 minute ride in a SUV that dune bashed its way into a man made hole (flat valley of sand with decorative tables low to the ground and plumbing) in the sand surrounded by sand walls that would echo the sounds of Audiotonic and world famous djs. The night was accompanied with unlimited Arabic bbq (think grilled kebabs, hummus, tabouli, Arabic bread, etc) and lots of other tasty treats (think black label, red bull, Stoli, etc). The "rave" scene here, I imagine, does not compare to other parts of the world where you merit a slap on the wrist for drug possession... Getting caught with such in the UAE is not worth the battle or the risk, so people for the most part were tame and under control. I met some fun Lebanese kids in the process, which made the evening even better. Although I'd never been to a 'rave' before, i'd say attending one in the desert was a nice start.

a bit of ear candy

This morning I've been running around trying to organize the media since Ahmed Bukhatir has a concert tonight in Dubai that I will be attending at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. I'm really looking forward to finally getting to hear him sing live. It should be something else. I wrote a post about him a few weeks ago - this is basically what he is going to be singing in both English and Arabic, all done in the traditional nasheed style.

A friend of mine sent me a really fantastic mix of artists that have kept my ipod busy for the last few days including:

Matthew Dear
Panda Bear
Tortoise
Bright Black Morning Light
The Be Good Tanyas
Dilla
Tom Waits
Bon Iver
Sufjan Stevens
Little Feat

I'm sure a quick name search on myspace will yield some good samples of some of their tunes. A few of them are a bit more well known - I can safely say I've been to my fair share of Little Feat and Sufjan Stevens shows, but Bon Iver is someone relatively new whose melancholy album I started listening to about a month ago and have really enjoyed.

On a completely different note, I found this piece about the Big Lebowski on NPR and it made me laugh since it's likely something that I would have heard on my morning commute into Aurora, Ohio. Either way, it made my day. Have a listen.

(awwwwww)

Not a whole lot has been going on since last week. The back and forth exposure to extreme heat and cold sent me into a strange sort of fever on Thursday, but I managed to keep things together and recover. Apparently this type of illness is common here since our bodies are not used to such extreme temperatures.

I was reading a few blurbs about Hillary's blunder with the press and her Kennedy assassination slip-up when I stumbled upon this article. I never have the time to read this kind of news, but it kind of made me want a penguin.

150 floor flight

It was only a matter of time before someone actually did this. I don't know which is worse though... the pain in your thighs from clambering up 150 flights of stairs or the jail time and 5,000 dhms fine.

WTF

Last night was the first time in months that I watched an entire Yankees game, albeit 8 hours ahead of the east coast with Arabic food and Miller Lites at hand via a shoddy internet connection streamed through mlb.tv. It was incredibly fun to watch, especially toward the beginning with Pettitte pitching 5 strikeouts in the first 2 innings- he eventually gave up 3 consecutive singles in the fourth that screwed up the Yankes 2-0 lead. And then, of course, the whole game took a turn for the worst as every Yankees game has gone this season, leading to a 7-4 loss. I contemplated sporting my 21 jersey, but I thought I'd save it for an occasion when the team really needed me. Maybe now is a better time than ever. Check out more highlights on the game here.

what stays in dubai happens in dubai? apparently

Trouble in the Middle East

he should write for the daily show

john mccain is really old

thanks for that, sean mintus.

axis of evil!

Last night I went to Friday Night Live at the Madinat Jumeirah, which was quite a show. After the success of the original Axis of Evil Middle East tour, a group of about 9 comedians decided to join forces and tour the world together. I was impressed since they represented just about every demographic in Dubai from Filipinos to Egyptians, Indians, and Lebanese. The popular thing to do, of course, was rip into Bush and fall back on him and America sucking royally to get the crowd revved up. Each comedian eventually transitioned into making fun of Arabic traditions, cities, customs, oh yes.. and let's not forget about Israel, which always got a big round of applause and cheers from every Arab in the room. All in all, it was hilarious. My favorite guy was Ronnie Khalil. He kind of reminds me of someone who would have been in show choir in high school. I think it's his facial expressions and theatrical accent. Anyway, plug in some head phones since the sound quality isn't that great and enjoy.

unhappy endings massage

"A man working as a masseur has been arrested by Dubai Police for killing a client by crushing his skull with a wooden club shortly after giving him a massage..."

Read the full story here

i'm too sexy for my abaya

Before coming to the UAE, I was definitely guilty of reserving some feelings against the hijab and abaya. Like many people, I saw it as a form of cultural oppression and male chauvinism - perhaps it is in a way. I won't get into the thick of it since there doesn't seem to be a right answer. Let's just say that I've learned to embrace it as more of a cultural and religious statement than a form of oppression. I look at it this way - my Emirati girlfriends have never known anything else - they like wearing the abaya since it's light and flowy, you can spruce it up with fancy embroidering and sparkles, and it's simply a staple in the way locals dress here. My grandmother has never owned a pair of pants in her life, simply because it wasn't part of her upbringing nor did it become part of her style. Most Indian women choose to wear saris for the same reasons - it's all they've ever know and it keeps them in touch with their culture. Emirati women seem to choose the abaya for similar reasons. although some of them may wish to shed that black layer when the heat settles in, it doesn't seem to bother them since its a symbol of their cultural roots and preserves that sense of nationalistic pride. Little girls are not required to wear them, but I always wonder what they think about their mothers who do. I imagine that they look forward to it or simply expect it as part of their coming of age, kinda like I used to look forward to fitting into my mom's high heels and wearing lipstick like she did. ok, that may not be the best comparison, but basically every little girl someday expects to take on her mother's identity and persona in some way, so I imagine it works the same way in this case.

I found this article today and it got me thinking about the abaya as more of a fashion statement than anything else. Although we equate "modernizing" to "westernizing" it doesn't necessarily need to be that way here. Modernizing the abaya doesn't need to mean getting rid of it completely, but rather adding a few bells and whistles to the sleeves and trim. I think the lady pictured up top looks pretty fabulous myself, but I'll leave that for you to decide.

"Just because the women wear this doesn't mean they're oppressed." - student from the Virginia Commonwealth University

somethin' just aint right...

1. Gas prices have skyrocketed in Dubai to over $4 a gallon
2. Tampa Bay is on a franchise-record home winning streak after a 10-1 win over the Yankees?!
3. People actually think they can get away with smuggling heroin through Dubai - ha!

wishing for wegmans

Last night was quite a good time with the arrival of Steve and Josh, two of my best friends from home. We go as far back as the lunch table our freshman year in high school and have spent just about every monumental teenage moment together from pep rallies to prom. It's crazy to think back 10 years ago and imagine what we would have said then had someone told us we would be sharing a bottle of wine in Dubai last night. We had dinner at Le Meredien just off airport road, which I had never been to but will need to start going to more often, with their really tasty all you can eat and drink buffet dinner for just 150 Dirhams (about $40). They had everything from Indian fare to fresh seafood and Arabic food. The night led us to the Irish Village, where I've been spending quite a few nights with the temperature just perfect in the evenings. We're milking this for all it's worth before it starts to heat up and the mere thought of standing outside brings sweat to your brow... Tonight we're headed to Barasti, another great outdoor venue, and then who knows. I am SO sleepy after my 2:30 AM bed time and 8:30 AM meeting this morning, but I'll have to make do with a nap on the beach tomorrow I guess (i know, life is hard...sigh). Below is a picture of us from last night. Josh is in the middle and "Stevo" is on the right.

Just when you thought it was safe...

They go ahead and do this...

thunder!

Sarah came into my room this morning to make sure I was up and as I peeped my head out from my bathroom to wish her a pleasant morning, our bodies froze with excitement from the sound of roaring thunder outside of my bedroom window. We cautiously leaned out the window to make sure our ears weren't playing tricks on us, only to be welcomed by that sweet, thick smell you can only find just before a summer downpour. Although we were greeted with just a drizzle, other parts of the city had some of the worst rain in years. Here's one of my favorite shots of the morning from Gulf News and some coverage on the weather - unlike most parts of the world faced with rain, the news had such a positive twist to it since we haven't seen even a sprinkle since January!

this fine social scene

So I may have shown up about 15 minutes after Sam Hardaker was done with his set (sob), but we ended up hanging out for the rest of the night, which was far more exciting! Below is a picture of us with Mr Mr of Audiotonic on my right. Both such great people.

Precisely

Dumb as we wanna be

horsewhipped!

Just imagine if American drivers were equipped with horse whips...

Road-rage driver 'tried to hit me with horsewhip'

check out the full report here

Oh yes, as you'll see in the last paragraph of this article, there is a reason why I keep all 5 fingers down when driving in the UAE.

pre-shrunk, vintage, slim fit...

Just when I thought Busted Tees and Urban Outfitters had taken over the 100% cotton, American Apparel world of tongue in cheek came Dangerous Breed with this haram collection of juxtapositions. I honestly can't decide which one I want the most.

Audiotonic

So excited...

la flaca se casa

I forgot to mention that as of April 16th I would be in America! I'm stuck in London-Gatwick at the moment with brightly glazed-over eyes and a bad case of the yawns. My flight getting in was delayed from NYC due to some dreary, damp and chilly weather last night, so my plans of arriving to Dubai were pushed back a few hours. Regardless, I loved my time at home and really enjoyed catching up with friends and family. In the end though, I was looking forward to returning to Dubai and getting back into a routine. Zero 7 is playing this Friday at 360, which is one of the most exciting things that's popped up on my calendar since I moved there. I am really looking forward to the show. I've got a couple friends from Pittsford planning a stop through as well this coming weekend, so I'll need to sleep off any jet lag for their arrival. I took my fair share of pictures during my time at home but only had a chance to post some shots from the wedding, which you can check out by clicking on the album below.

la flaca se casa

world's biggest (fill in blank)

Dubai never ceases to amaze me. We've got it all, from the world's tallest tower to the world's largest hotel, the world's largest arch bridge, the world's largest mall, the world's largest water reservoir, the world's (soon to be) largest airport, the world's largest indoor ski park, the world's largest amusement park, and now ... the world's largest chop sticks. You think they would have tried a stab at cooking up the world's largest pita before pulling off something like this.

Although we've put size to shame in just about every corner of the world, Saudi Prince Al-Walid Bin Talal is going to have the last laugh with his newly announced mile high tower. I'd be laughing too if I created a building large enough to make people sick to their stomachs:

"The building will be fitted with a giant computer-operated damper stretching down several floors - to counter the nausea-inducing sway caused by the wind."

Read the full story here.

Chamba

I don't know how people ever got along without Facebook. I went back to see if I could trace when I joined and I think it was somewhere around January 2007. Since then, I have reconnected with 480+ people and counting! It's really made the world feel like a much smaller place, especially being all the way over here. I wouldn't be surprised if Facebook ends up in Merriam-Webster as a noun and a verb with the way people abuse it these days.

Case and point - 2 weeks ago I "facebooked" a handful of friends I knew in Guatemala. It had been about 13 years since we last saw one another, making the reconnection process a lot of fun. I was not sure who I'd find, but I think I got lucky with about 7 successful friend requests. Since then we've been going back and forth, sharing pictures, comparing passport stamps, and reliving the sweaty-palmed, jean jacket, snap-at-the-crotch leotard, middle school dance parties via youtube and the help of this top hits list from 1993. really brings you back...

Everyone turned out to be pretty awesome, spending their years after Colegio Maya everywhere from the Philippines to Hungary, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Holland, and Costa Rica. The list goes on... One of my friends ended up playing professional soccer in Monaco, eventually starting his own sports apparel company based in Orlando, called Chamba. During his time in Costa Rica, Jason was part of a movement called freestyle soccer, which he continues to play and promote today through the Chamba culture. Below is just an example of what freestyle looks like, as demonstrated by Jason Utley Madrigal himself. The Chamba web site has some other fun multimedia links on it. Check 'em out here (cool, cooler, coolest).

Masha'allah

The direct translation for this in English is: "God has willed it".

We often use this phrase here to express admiration and sincere awe in someone or something. In Arabic, it's commonly heard when people compliment one another or appreciate something beautiful like the beach, the sunset, or even the music video below.

An interesting piece of trivia- Ahmed Bukhatir is the owner and CEO of the company I work for. Much to my chagrin, he is also one of the UAE's most loved and famed singers. His songs are very faith-based, delivering messages true to Islam. His voice is gorgeous, generally adhering to the more traditional nasheed style of accapella with some basic percussion to preserve the purity and simplicity of music. I included the lyrics to the song below. Masha'allah.


Today, upon a bus,
I saw a girl with golden hair.
And wished I was as fair.
When suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one leg and wore a crutch.
But as she passed, she smiled.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two legs the world is mine.

I stopped to buy some candy.
The lad who sold it had such charm.
I talked with him, he seemed so glad.
If I were late, it `d do no harm.
And as I left, he said to me,
"I thank you, you've been so kind.
You see," he said, "I `m blind"

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two eyes the world is mine.

I saw a child with eyes of blue.
He stood and watched the others play.
He did not know what to do.
I stopped a moment and then I said,
"Why don't you join the others, dear?"
He looked ahead without a word.
And then I knew. He couldn't hear.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two ears the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I `d go.
With eyes to see the sunset's glow.
With ears to hear what I'd know.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine.
I have blessed indeed, the world is mine

Dubai Summer Games 2012

Surprised? I was just imagining this hitting headlines sooner or later and here it is. Dubai will surely take a stab at the Summer Olympics. I didn't realize it would happen so soon. It just doesn't make sense though with temperatures hitting 120+ degrees during the summer time with 100% humidity. I'd like to see them get past environmentalists with proposals for air conditioned 65,000 seat stadiums. Although, human rights activists didn't seem to sway Beijing much in their fight for Darfur. If anything, Dubai would make a better contender for the Winter games with their upcoming indoor snow dome and that giant indoor ski slope near the beach...

it's the most wonderful time of the year!

That's right. it' s baseball season. the emails have already started flowing in from friends back home relaying tales of home openers, extra innings, beer-dampened cement stairs, and that warm, burnt pork smell. Ironically, my date with Bob Sheppard will have to be put on hold since my Yankees will be in Cleveland (of all places!!) the weekend I'm in NYC. So sad since this is their last year in "the cathedral". I'll have to catch a (gasp) Met's game, but would prefer to attend a ball game with my dad. Frontier Field in Rochester is a great spot since they host the Rochester Red Wings, a triple-A farm team for the Twins. Dad and I have had some good moments on that field, so I'm hoping for clear skies, a frothy draft, and a good, soft pretzel to keep the upstate new york chill at bay.

I'll leave you with an excerpt from an email I received recently. it might as well have been sent by a Sox fan (boo hiss). it did, however, bring a smile to my face:

"How was the Dubai World Cup? That must have been
the most over the top, expensive-to-put-on, decadent sports event
you've ever been to...oh wait, Yankees fan. I'd bet those horses
don't get groomed nearly as often as the mane on Johnny Damon."

can't wait for

rain
cowboy boots
fresh spinach
Starburst
recycling
basements
sidewalks
pretending not to read the cover of US weekly and People in the checkout line
Target
NPR
Rochester accents
Bagels
corner stores
$2 drafts
gumball machines
Daniela
brown paper grocery bags
hoppy beer
Mexican restaurants
good tortilla chips
mom and dad
lucky pennies
corduroy
Wegmans
the 6 train
self check-out aisles
3 digit area codes
100-127 V/60Hz plugs
turning right on red
HBO
mom's stuffed artichokes
Dinosaur bbq
victoria's secret
dishwashers
knitting
fireplaces
ebay
pinstriped uniforms
Skipper
playing my violin
down comforters
electric toothbrushes
Blockbuster video
all things Goya
taking naps in my parents' bed
Gatorade
old yearbooks and photo albums
dutch apple pie
my cousin's wedding
paying $40 for a tank of gas
deer crossing signs
hipster sightings
holding a big, delicious copy of the Sunday Times
string cheese
museums
the US Postal service
Maseca corn flour
tap water
carpeting
Steve Colbert
reminiscing with wine-stained lips

..16 days to go before my trip home. first time back in almost 6 months.

Not sure if this song has come out in America yet, but I'm absolutely in love with it. i also secretly wish i was in this music video. The artist's name is Adele and she is fantastic. enjoy.

extra baggage

British Airways happens to be one of our clients, as we provide communication solutions and consulting services for them throughout the Gulf region and Africa as well. This part of the job is pretty cool since we need to figure out how to market and strategically position our clients in the media spotlight, taking into consideration the culture and interests in this part of the world. Effectively doing this has involved extensive research about the political and social scene throughout the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region, in addition to some quality one on one time with just about every journalist, from English dailies to Arabic financial publications. Striking up these friendships has helped me understand what the public will read, what the media is interested in publishing, and how to position my clients according to these needs.

Today has been a bit crazy, however, since BA is faced with a crisis. Normally when crises occur, it's good news for me since it gives us an opportunity to rebuild a tainted reputation and come up with creative ways to help the public understand that the dust will settle and things will get better for the client. Today, in particular, we have seen widespread panic relating to the new T5 terminal at Heathrow that will serve as the main hub for BA. The buildup and PR for this project has been incredible, taking up a fair share of our time in the process. This news story has made waves throughout the region and will likely push people to find alternative methods of travel.

Looking ahead, we'll need to develop material to showcase that this was just a hiccup and that BA is on track to running a successful, new terminal (let's hope). I hate to admit it, but I'm kind of glad to be flying home on Emirates Airways in a couple weeks.

my mother's daughter

Nostalgia has hit me like a bag of bricks this week! I was just tiring of my daily dose of kcrw and the new and fantastic Raconteurs album when I suddenly found myself doing a search for Linda Ronstadt on youtube. I love this woman, not for her duets with Aaron Neville but for her awesome Mexican ballads dedicated to her late Mexican father. Sunday's growing up were my favorite since my parents always played the most eclectic mix, loading their 5 disc cd changer with everything from the Beatles, to the Guess Who, Moody Blues, Julio Iglesias, Frank Sinatra, Carpenters, Ottmar Liebert, Roberto Carlos, Pat Methany, Sergio Mendez, Santana, The original James Bond soundtrack, and of course, Linda Ronstadt's "Canciones de mi Padre" (thanks mamacita).

I'm much better when it comes to smell since it really triggers the most vivid memories, but music is probably the next most powerful way to tap into the past. Let's see, this song makes me think of tropical rain, visits from my tia Carmen, tio Neto and and their kids, warm hand made tortillas and refried beans, my mom's Obsession perfume from the early '90s, and turning blue from trying to match Linda's high octave and drawn out notes (you'll know when you get to that part of the song). This will probably humor anyone that listens to the tune and will make no one's day besides mine, but I felt it worth sharing the bright spot of my Thursday afternoon in the middle east.

Ana Behibek

That means "I love you" in Arabic. There was a lot of that going around on Valentines day amongst the ladies of villa # 30, which I didn't have a chance to post pictures of until getting my hands on them yesterday. Conditions were perfect for celebrating this year with the four of us overworked and unloved (awww). We saved the wine, chocolate covered strawberries, and Scent of a Woman for the 15th and went for mojitos and the tastiest late night shawarma instead. Check out the pictures here or click on the link below.

valentines day in dubai

this just in

Driving into work, my view of the bright blue Dubai sky was interrupted by an immense black cloud of smoke looming over the skyline ahead. Moments later I found out that an explosion took place in an [illegal] fireworks warehouse, setting off a chain of over 40 fires in a part of town called Al Quoz, which is on the way to the Burj Al Arab hotel. Not a very nice part of town, but still pretty unfortunate. check out the story here.

My question though - how is it possible to conceal an illegal fireworks warehouse in Dubai but get 4 years in jail for entering the UAE with poppy seeds on your clothes from a bread roll you ate 7 hours ago?! unbelievable

Feliz Pascua

I was told on Friday night that I have a strut like Arnold. My limp is pretty funny come to think of it - I got my stitches out on Wednesday and the scar is healing relatively well, albeit very slowly. Regardless, I've been limping around with a permanent bend in my right knee. I know this sounds crazy, but it's actually much more comfortable to wear three inch heels than my reef flip flops since the heels keep my right leg permanently bent, making me look a bit less awkward when I walk around. I'm being careful and trying to stay off my leg completely, but a woman's gotta do what she's gotta do to get around and look stylish. I guess I should be thanking Steve Madden and Aldo for their help in the healing process, in addition to Band-aid and Neosporin.

Easter was not much to be celebrated here. For starters, I spent 11 hours at the office! I suddenly had a pang for Sweet Tart bunny and chick-shaped candies, Cadbury eggs (which I don't even like), and the smell of that plastic grass mom used to use to fill up our baskets. Easter really does come with a smell and you can find it in the candy aisle of CVS (sigh). I miss this time of year suddenly. To celebrate, Faisal gave me a large chocolate egg covered in gold foil and we dined at a great Latin place called Pachanga where a Spanish trio was playing live bossa nova and covers of some of my favorite artists including Rosario's Casa en el Aire (my favorite of hers!) and Maná's Corazón Espinado.
I'm hoping to be all healed up by this weekend since I was handed a VIP pass today to the Dubai World Cup, which is basically the richest horse race in the world, hosted by the one and only Sheikh Mo! I will need to do some hat shopping beforehand and am going to stay hopeful that these Arabs know how to make a mean mint julep.

Semana Santa

One of my favorite things about living in Guatemala was celebrating Semana Santa, or "Holy Week". Every year my parents would take us to Antigua, a gorgeous little town tucked away behind 3 volcanoes in the central highlands of the country. Since Guatemala is a predominantly Catholic country, most people take the holidays very seriously and Semana Santa is by far the most celebrated in Antigua. All week locals spend the day sprinkling tapestries of flower petals on the street, creating rich, colorful blankets with patterns designed from scratch. Upon these floral carpets pass processions of men and women with martyred expressions whose sole purpose is to carry a series of immensely heavy floats on their shoulders that showcase the stations of the cross. The fresh aroma of pine needles and floral petals is often interrupted by waves of burning incense that cloud the cobblestone streets for the majority of the week. It truly is a once in a lifetime experience that I suggest everyone should see at some point in time.

Here in the UAE there is obviously a shortage of Reese's peanut butter eggs and every other magical taste that accompanies the holiday, but we do have something to celebrate. March 20 is Mawlid, also know as the Prophet's birthday, which is by default a national holiday. I'm not sure what the locals here to do prepare but I will be sure to report if its anything spectacular.

I'm including a video I found on youtube of the weekly festivities in Antigua. It does a great job of capturing just about everything from the flower beds to the music and the slow and steady swaying of the floats.

tragic

Remember a few weeks ago when I commented on the fog in Dubai? Well, the weather really took its toll on morning commuters last Tuesday - a thick blanket of fog caused the worst ever accident in UAE history. 200 cars were involved leaving 3 people dead and almost 400 injured. You can read about the story here. Fortunately, no one I know was involved in the crash, but the road on which the accident took place is widely traveled since people are always headed back and forth between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Hopefully the government cracks down soon and starts enforcing some more rigid road rules.

still alive

Wow, the last week has been thrilling. Aside from feeling like my body is slowly beginning to take on a pancake shape from all this laying around, I have been able to soak up some quality pop culture. In fact, last week I watched all of seasons 1 and 2 of 30 Rock, most probably my favorite sitcom in ages. It's witty and tongue in cheek and made for smart, cynical, sarcastic people as well as those who just want a good laugh. I had a taste of it last year when I caught a glimpse of their brilliant "Cleveland" episode and since then I've been hooked with no time to catch up until now. 

Some other discoveries:

KASH check out Swings and Roundabouts (both versions), as well as Alright Fine

More reasons to feel guilty

Parov Stelar i can't get enough

I figured out how to harmonize along to the entire and fantastic new Goldfrapp album

I have way too many split ends

Cooking dinner on crutches is way harder than it sounds

Papaya is actually tasty if you sprinkle some lemon juice on it

No Country for Old Men is a pretty decent flick

27 Dresses is NOT

Oat Bran tastes like grits

Sleep

Lahore

I was the first one at the airport. No problems getting my ticket, getting through security, and getting my bags checked. Mehr arrived only to realize that she had forgotten her passport, at which time Faisal and her brother had to turn around, retrieve it from their apartment and hustle back to Terminal 2 at DXB. With or without them, I think I still would have left for Lahore considering the hassle I went through trying to get there.

No one told me that sun dresses are not allowed in Pakistan. I should have known better, but the Shariah laws in Dubai don't really apply, and I was left with a suitcase of adorable summery attire that sat on the floor of Mehr's room the entire weekend. Fortunately, she had plenty of traditional blouses and pants for me to sport while I was there.

Lahore reminded me a bit of Latin America – everyone has a driver, a maid, a security guard, a cook, a gardener, and some extra hands to help around the house. In Pakistan, people drive on the left side of the road and the traffic there made me long for Dubai, which isn't saying much. We dodged rickshaws and horse/mule-drawn carts with the most random things imaginable. Certain parts of town were so congested with diesel-fueled rickshaws that I had to cover my mouth since my lungs started burning from the black smoke that clouded the air! The mother tongue in Pakistan is Urdu, but many people speak English as well. Most young men and women live at home with their families until they are married, and living on your own with a boyfriend or girlfriend is unheard of. Families are immense, friendships run deep, the food is out of this world, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't looking for another opportunity to return.

The parties we attended were like nothing I'd ever seen before. Most people hire companies to come and set up tents that host hundreds of people. Under the tent you'll find colorful carpeting, low benches with bright cushions, tables lined with spicy curries, and a variety of traditional lamb, chicken, and fish-based dishes. Pakistanis love their scotch, so the number of empty bottles of Black Label trumped the small collection of sour, Jacob's Creek consumed. Pakistani women are gorgeous with their big eyes, tan complexions and shiny, thick black hair. They rock the sari for fancier occasions (like Farah's engagement) and also sport the salwar kameez. I was able to capture all of the above in the pictures I took. Unfortunately, we did not have a lot of time to sightsee but the illustrative link will provide a glimpse of the fancy silks and jewels that garnished the weekend.

ouch

Well, I'm back from Pakistan. I returned in one piece, in fact, only to find myself in this compromising position just yesterday evening. No worries, pictures from my trip are on their way, but in the meantime, here's a little taste of the drama behind that glorious white piece of plaster on my leg.

The relatively old, Arabic-style house we live in has had quite a few problems since we moved in, from mice sneaking in to oven doors breaking and leaking air conditioners. This has been a running joke since we never know what's going to happen next. To say the least, here's what happened next. In our bathroom, there is a ceramic counter of sorts very delicately anchored to the wall that holds our sink and toiletries in place. Getting ready for a fun night out, I rested my leg on the counter top for some leverage since I was shaving my legs and the mere weight of my leg, metaphorically speaking, was the straw the broke the camel's back. The entire counter fell from the wall, shattering into hundreds of broken chards that I subsequently slipped and landed on. I had no idea what happened until I looked down to find a pool of blood that had generated from a 2 1/2 inch deep by 6 inch long gash in my right calve muscle and some other beauties on my right side. The reaction from my room mates from seeing the purple muscle within and the multiple layers of fat and skin was enough to convince me that I'd need more than a band-aid.

Fortunately for me, my room mates knew exactly what to do, putting pressure on the wound and wrapping me up tight. Within 5 minutes we were on our way to the Welcare hospital where I stayed for about 5 hours until they were finished with me. The process involved thorough cleaning of the wounds, a tetanus shot, IV, x-rays, around 20 stitches both internally and externally, and a plaster cast to keep things in place. I'm stuck in bed now, taking about 4 pills 3 times a day to save me from pain and infection. I've got a pair of crutches that so far have facilitated one trip to the bathroom as well as 3 different types of apple juice, courtesy of my amazing room mates. I am so rich with wonderful friends and so lucky for them. I think at one point I had 8 people in my little room, complete with kisses and flowers and hands for squeezing. Hopefully someday I can repay the favor. For now, I guess I'll milk this TLC for all it's worth since I'm expected to take about 10-12 days to heal - no driving, walking, drinking, etc. I'm doing some work from home and taking it easy, throwing in a nap here and there and hoping to catch up on some movies and books I've been meaning to consume since I got here.

Sarah took some lovely pictures of the damage so I'll post them on picasa for anyone who's interested. In the meantime, I'm alive and well and lucky in many ways. This still REALLY SUCKS but hopefully it will pass quickly enough so that I am ready for St. Patricks Day at the Irish Village!

bombay dreams! well, kind of

Since freshman year, my "brown" friends (a.k.a. desis, the Brown Alliance) have been pushing me to make a trip to my homeland for some much needed soul searching and perhaps a samosa or two. After quite the ordeal of getting my ticket and visa in place, I'm finally packed and heading out to Pakistan this afternoon for Faisal's sister's engagement party, in addition to some other planned activities that will take us through Sunday night. We'll be staying in Lahore, which is said to mirror Delhi quite a bit. I've packed a sari for the actual engagement, which I will be sure to report on upon my return. The weather is comparable to Dubai, with highs in the mid-80s, although the nights seem to be dropping into the 50s there, which is a little cooler than the current conditions here. Above all things, I am in good hands and will be safe. What's humored me the most about this adventure is that when I tell people where I'm going, they make it a point to remind me that Bin Laden is headquartered in Lahore - Honestly, if he is, all the better since we've been looking for him for 7 years with no luck. I'll be sure to give a shout to the USA if I bump into him.

pictures to follow. In the meantime, here's a clip from one of my favorite broadway shows.

This can't be good for you..

That's oil painted on their bodies! These boys are called Pintados, or Painted Ones. Apparently, since the 17th century, villagers of San Nicolas de los Ranchos have been painting themselves in oil for this annual, Lenten festival to scare away evil spirits in the foothills of Mexico's Popocatepetl Volcano.