Abu Dhabi - The Experience Never Ends

          It has been a very long time since my last entry about Abu Dhabi.  Life between now and my last entry has been a whirlwind of changes, losses and new developments.  We went home late December to attend my brother Geoff''s wedding which was a lot of fun.  We were back from the wedding in Abu Dhabi for less than a day early January when we got the news that my dad had passed away unexpectedly.  So we immediately turned back to Michigan to make the arrangements and say goodbye.  I have to say I have been through a lot in my life, but this has to be one of the hardest situations I have ever had to experience.  But I will say it has only strengthened my desire to to live life to the fullest, cherish every day and never stop taking risks.

          Many things have happened in Abu Dhabi since my last entry, one major milestone is that my place of employment: Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (CCAD) is has finally opened its doors and started seeing patients.  In addition to moving to a new country, meeting people from all over the world, I have to add that working for and helping to open CCAD has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life.  The advancements we have been able to make in such a short period of time with such a small team has been impressive to say the least.  I have been able to accomplish more at CCAD with business intelligence and analytics than I have anywhere else.  I also included two pictures of the hospital, one where I had to go to work in a sandstorm and one on a normal day.  If you have watched the mission impossible filmed in Dubai, the sandstorm in that movie was not an exaggeration, I'm sure this picture will prove that.  

           Over the last year Sarah and I have really taken advantage of all Abu Dhabi has to offer.  One of the cool things we were able to check out was a wake boarding competition that they had at the Al Forsan International Sports Resort.  The competition was set in an automated wake boarding pool pulling all the contestants on a cable around the park.  You can actually rent time on this park during regular hours (which I have yet to do).  After the competition there was a small party afterwards which we hung around for.           

 I have been enjoying the vast selection of Cuban cigars in the UAE as well on occasion.  There are many great Cigar lounges in Abu Dhabi (St Regis, The Rosewood and Emirtates Palace).  I also went to a cigar rolling presentation where someone from Cuba was flown in to hand make the cigar you would try.  Me and my friend Leo from work went together to watch and enjoy a cigar one night.  I learned that the tobacco inside a cigar is rolled up and that the leaves used on the inside are the ones left in full sun on the tobacco plant where the outside cover of the cigar is left more in the shade.  My friend Leo (U.S. citizen, originally from Guatemala) spoke in Spanish to the nice woman rolling our cigars as she did not speak any English.  After knowing I can buy Cuban cigars in the UAE, I didn't think it could get any better.  But apparently it can and that means having a professional cigar roller from Cuba make your cigar right in front of you.  There's nothing like adding an educational experience to a classy joint with a nice Cuban cigar.

           Before I sound too unhealthy, I have also taken up golf and the sport of squash while I've been here.  The Westin resort in Abu Dhabi has a PGA course and a halogen night course you can golf.  I have a group of friends I head out with usually in the middle of the week to run the course.  For me it is quite difficult as I am still quite a novice at golf, I usually bring about five extra range balls off the assumption that I will probably lose them all.  I am much more serious about squash however and have improved vastly over the last year.  I have become so serious that I actually have a coach I train with once a week apart from my two game nights in my league.  If you have never tried it before, it looks like racket ball, but it is far from it.  Squash is one of the most cardio intense sports there is, the professionals tell me "you don't play squash to get fit, you get fit to play squash".  Also in the world of sports, Sarah's company (Mubadala) sponsored a health walk where she got to meet Kareem Abdul Jabar, and just recently when I was out with my friends we ran into another retired NBA player Jawann Oldham who played for many teams including the Bulls and the Lakers (he played for a total of 8 teams).  He is in town as a coach for the Olympic team (he is also a 1980 Olympic gold medalist) and is also the director of the basketball academy of Dubai.       

         Another highlight I would have to say for me was running my first 10K, I never opted to do it in the states because I am stingy and never wanted to pay money to run.  So I got my chance when my hospital offered to pay for the first two hundred employees who signed up.  I find that practicing for a 10K is actually harder than running the official race.  The actual 10K is way easier: you have people cheering for you, handing you water at various intervals (that you can pour all over yourself and drink) and you have all these runners around you to compete with and set pace.  I have not been in a running competition since my high school track days and I forgot how great that runners high feels after a good long run. 

         Sarah's work gave us free tickets to the Formula one races as well as an after party show with Pharrell Williams performing.  The race was a lot of fun, we had actually been on the track many times to ride bikes during the week nights when they allow you to, so it was actually cool to see them race on the track.  You can also pay a decent sum of money to race your own car on the track (However, many people do not realize you completely destroy your tires on the track and have to replace them after).  Pharrell Williams was ok, he was complaining about a sore throat or his stake smoke bothering him, but we got to see "Happy" live, so there you go.  

Formula One Track

           Early this year Sarah and I booked a stay at the Atlantis resort in Dubai which in on the Palm Island.  We scheduled time there to do the dolphin activity mainly but also found that the water park was a lot of fun.  The dolphins were great to swim with and let pull you around, it was a great experience for anyone who has never done it before.  There was a slide in the water park (if you can call it that) where you have to step into a capsule standing straight up, the door closes on you, and a trap door drops from beneath and you free fall for a second or two before doing a cork screw upside down and out.  It is truly terrifying the first time you do it, but I had to do it a few more times after my first.  According to Sarah I screamed all the way down the tube on my first run.  I have to say it was hilarious when I finally convinced Sarah to go and seeing her reaction.  

            My brother also came earlier this year on the tail end of his honeymoon.  I have to say it was quite priceless to see both of their reactions come out of the airport, I am not sure I had the exact look on my face when I first arrived in the UAE, they seemed a bit shell shocked to be in the middle east.  But after a day or so and us taking them around they realized this place was not only safe, but actually a lot of fun.  Who would have imagined we would all meet in Abu Dhabi together one day.  We took him and his wife Jillian around Abu Dhabi, to the local zoo, stayed at Qasr Al Sarab (also stopped at a car museum on the way) resort again and then went back to the Atlantis in Dubai to Skydive over the Palm and enjoy the water park.  I was happy I also got a chance to show my brother the new hospital too and have him meet some of my local friends and friends from other parts the world.
                I was rather surprised how much I wasn't terrified to go skydiving in Dubai.  Me, my

brother and Sarah all planned to drop out of the plane and when the time came I was ready.  I was the first to drop out with my guide.  Initially it is cold and very loud as you free fall through the air, the view was breathtaking.  Slowly the air gets warmer and just at that point the shoot is pulled and it becomes completely silent.  You just coast for a while before lifting your legs up and landing on your butt in the grass.  Thankfully we hired photographers for the event, Geoff had a fear there was no air up at the high altitude where we were skydiving so he was making a hover vacuum face in a bunch of his photos...priceless.  Although I think I would have rather had his pictures as clearly I didn't realize that I was doing double bull horns in half of my pictures (what a tool).  Sarah clearly is the most photogenic when (and had the best photographer) it comes to skydiving as she had the best pictures (as if I had any doubt),  Geoff and Jillian really enjoyed the water park as I assumed they would, I forgot to mention before that the Atlantis has a sort of lazy river on steroids.  It takes you up and down on conveyor belts and coasts you up to slides and back in the river again, you can literally ride the river through tunnels and transparent shark tank slides for hours without having to get off your tube.
                 I also was able to take them to Dubai mall in front of the 2km tall Burj Khalifa where they have a fountain that rivals (build by the same team) the one in front of the Bellagio in Las Vegas.  My brother missed out on that during my bachelor party so this made up for it (plus they played Michael Jackson -  Thriller).  I was so happy my brother came to visit, I think there were so many strange ideas going through the family about where we were and to have him come see our lives here meant a lot to me.  I'm also happy that he can go home and tell others about it and set the story straight about this place. 

             Before my brother arrived I also had planned the surprise for Sarah's 30th.  I had to call in a slight favor from one of my long term relationships I had with a customer service representative with
the Westin.  (If you are not aware I am very very picky about customer service in restaurants and hotels and will speak out if I sense anything I think falls outside the lines of quality and customer care.  But do not let that fool you, I am nothing but pleasant in my exchanges with the leaders I speak with.  I write up full constructive reports and stories about my experiences and in many cases are thanked repeatedly for my contribution.  They tell me how nice it was to offer my experience in such a constructive way and how my feedback can be used to make valuable improvements.  This behavior has earned me countless free dinners and night stays at many of my favorite vacation spots in the world.  Why is this relevant now do you ask?)  I needed Sarah's 30th to start with a bang, so I booked a room right in front of the Palm Island in Dubai the weekend Michael Buble was in town. I asked my friend at Westin corporate if he could give me an upgrade.  He said he would see what he could do, not sure what but it would be something.  When we arrived to check in we were greeted by the front desk manager and personally escorted to our room.  Much to my surprise we appeared in front of two double doors, when she opened them I was blown away.  The room was a two story penthouse with four balconies, a spiral staircase going to the master bedroom, a Jacuzzi, a steam room and a full size kitchen.  I had to act like it was all planned but I was just as surprised as Sarah was.  Needless to say Michael Buble was great, but I think Sarah enjoyed the room just as much.

Gazelle by our pool

In the desert after our Camel ride

              Our last note able experience was my surprise for Sarah one weekend when I drove her out to a different desert resort out in the Emirate of Sharja for the weekend.  Unlike the other resort we went to this one was meant to be much isolated.  With the Bedouin theme in mind, each hotel room is shaped like a tent and isolated from all other rooms, you get your own personal pool and breakfast served to your room in the morning.  The entire area is a preserve so as you enter there are animals (mostly gazelle and oryx) just casually walking all over the property.  When we were swimming in our pool we usually had two to three gazelle grazing a few feet away.  The booking also included two activities for the day.  We chose a sunset camel ride in the desert and the 5 am falcon hunting session.  The camel ride was ok, I'm not sure if I mentioned but I don't really like camels, but for some reason Sarah does so I take one for the team and hop on.  The falcon hunting session was way more fun for me, the explained how to train a wild falcon (I actually got to hold a falcon once at a work event as well) and how to feed them a just the right times to get them from flying off when you release them.  They also showed us this trained desert eagle (Owl) which also knew how to hunt to some degree.  After the activity we went back to sleep for a while before ordering our breakfast in bed, I was happy to order my favorite breakfast of all time: eggs benedict.  That was probably my favorite desert resort of the two we have stayed at mostly because of the wild life aspect, that was amazing.

Our Bedouin Tent Room

             Also how could I possibly forget, our newest member of the family, Maxim (Max) turned one this year.  Sarah baked him a tuna cake with a candle (I think he was hypnotized by the flame in the picture, as he can be seen contemplating his last year on earth).  I have not been the biggest fan of cats in my past, but I'll admit, I love that cat.         

              It has been a crazy past twelve months, but I have to say that we are still very much enjoying it here.  Our fascination and curiosity for the culture here and the many cultures that come to work here is still the same.  These two video's I posted below I think sum up two things.  The first gives the reason many people become expats to begin with.  It describes the journey an expat takes over time and what can happen if you are open.  The second video gives a good idea of what we see every day (this is how the locals dress and how they look on a normal day) but also the exposure to all the other cultures that are here too.  This is truly a unique place, no other place in the world like it.  

            

            

Abu Dhabi - Amazing Food, Expatriates & Staying Fresh in the U.A.E.

Lebanese Mill (Garlic cream
on the top right)

          Just recently I crossed the seven month threshold of living in Abu Dhabi.  I find it interesting to look back on my previous entries and how I have evolved over time.  Experience, increased comfort and extended knowledge has given me new clarity when it comes to what I see when I look at the exact same city I saw six months ago.  The new normal: a phrase I like to use when talking about adjusting to life's many curve-balls dealt to each individual over the course of their lives.  Abu Dhabi is definitely becoming my "new normal" but I have not fully given in to accepting this new city as my home.  I first noticed this when I was returning with Sarah back from our holiday in Scotland.  We spent two weeks touring around Scotland and when we returned to Abu Dhabi after it all, it seems strange to us that we were back.  It was almost like we should have been returning somewhere else after our holiday was over.  That feeling did not last very long before I settled back in again, but I found it to be an interesting status indicator of where I am at in my adjustment here in Abu Dhabi and the U.A.E.  Basically that this city is slowly becoming my home, but it may be some time before it really sinks in.  

           The U.A.E. is unique in the fact that there really is no other place on the planet at the moment where people from all over the world are consistently migrating over for work opportunities.  The U.S. has been referred to as a cultural melting pot and there are certainly many pockets of diverse culture, but there is a different type of flavor here in the U.A.E.  In my opinion the U.S. almost absorbs other cultures to create an "American" culture.  However in the U.A.E. I get the sense of authentic cultural experiences wherever I go.  Because many expats are here on semi short term stays, it seems that cultural heritage, habit and practice are retained in more concentration.  And it is for this reason that anyone coming to work here receives a front row seat to the majority of the worlds cultures.  It is a remarkably rewarding experience to have this type of cultural exposure on a regular basis.  Any challenges that are associated with these scenarios are worth it a thousand times over compared to the value these experience add to your life.  When you think about where you live and where your home is, you are in your own little world with its own intricacies that make it home to you.  Now if you assume everyone around the world has home just like that, there are an infinite number of little universes out there to explore and learn about.  For me personally to be able to go into another persons world and be able to learn and grow in that place is such a gift.  I think if everyone took the opportunity to explore and learn about someone with a background and history different from their own, the world would be a much more tolerant and peaceful place.  I find it is much harder for people to judge something or someone if you have made a personal connection to what you are looking at.      

Shawarma Time (the real people
who serve me!)

            In the interest of keeping the diversity theme I will mention a collection of restaurants that I have frequented during the last seven months here.  On my very first day in Abu Dhabi, my first lunch was at a place my work buddy Clay brought Sarah and I to called the Lebanese Mill.  This was the place I had mentioned in one of my earlier blogs where I kept getting lamb instead of the shish taouk that I kept trying to order when Clay had brought me there.  The shish tauok is my favorite meal there which basically consists of fries (chips), chicken, pickles and garlic cream.  The garlic cream is the kicker of the meal, I have never experienced this before Abu Dhabi, suffice it to say I am still very much addicted to the substance.  If you have not tried garlic cream, please look up the recipe and make some up, if you like garlic, you will not be disappointed.  Although even hours after consumption, Sarah can tell that it was a "garlic cream" day, so be wary of its affects on others after you dine.    

Hanoi (Sun Tower)

          Another restaurant I am visiting more often recently is Shawarma Time, this joint serves chicken or beef shawarma (sometimes turkey).  Shawarma is basically a choice of meat placed on a spit and then roasted for as long as a day, then it is shaved off in small pieces and put into a sandwich or dish.  My favorite is the chicken saj shawarma with you guessed it, garlic sauce and pickles.  
          Pinoy Big Brother is a Filipino restaurant where I was introduced to a meal called Sigsig (see crackling video example above) which is basically all of these peppers with chicken or beef, and a raw egg placed on a steaming hot skillet which is brought out to you as the egg is cooking.  I have yet to identify the oil that is used to cook everything but it tastes amazing (which probably means its bad for you).  You can order this at three varying levels of spiciness.     

Arabic Coffee

          A restaurant Sarah and I frequent in our building is called Hanoi which is a Vietnamese cuisine.  We consistently order a dish called the chicken bun ga, which is basically this compilation of rice noodles, greens (including mint) and chicken with brown sauce and peppers to add on the side.  We usually eat this meal about once a week and now we are greeted by the hosts at Hanoi with the immediate response "same thing?", as we have never departed from our chicken "bun ga" choice order.  
          During my orientation tour I was brought to a restaurant called Cafe Arabia, which up to this point is still the best place to order Arabic food fusions that taste incredible.  My favorite local drinks would have to be Arabic coffee (which has so many spices it tastes more like tea) which is the only time I have considered coffee to taste good and cardamom tea (also called "Karak" tea) which is this mildly spiced tea with hot milk.

Sarah at The One
Restaurant

           My latest favorite restaurant hang out is a place called The One which is near Emirates palace.  I found this little gem on Zomato about a month ago and took some time finding it.  It turns out The One is also a total home experience store which is basically like Pottery Barn on steroids.  The restaurant is in the far back of the home decor store on the second floor.  You have to navigate to the back to find a table, most items at your table including chairs, light fixtures and utensils are for sale in the store.  The unique placement of the restaurant in the store surrounded by various decor scenes gives you a sort of "Night at The Muesum" vibe which makes for an enjoyable time.  Oh, and the food is quite good too.        
           Sarah and I are currently taking another step to express our desire for a semi permanent stay in Abu Dhabi by looking at condominiums to purchase.  Buying property here is rather different than the U.S. and since we are non-Emiratis we also can only purchase property in designated areas.  We are currently close to closing on a property on Reem Island which is where we currently live.  We wanted to buy a unit in our current building, but prices are too inflated at the moment, so we bought down the road from our tower in hopes that new development over the years will also raise the price of our newly purchased unit.  We currently live in Sun tower and are going to be moving to Amaya Towers in the next month or so.  Our new two bedroom unit has a beautiful view of the Gulf as well as Saadiyat Island.  The unit also has a long deck stretching with patio doors in both the living room and master bedroom.      

Amaya Towers (Our new home)

           At this current juncture of my time in Abu Dhabi I think it is important to call out that it really is a privilege to live and work in the United Arab Emirates.  I sense that there is a constant battle to not become spoiled by all of the wonderful amenities that we could only dream of having back in our home country (or at least pay a premium for).  My goal is to continue to appreciate this amazing opportunity we have along with the benefits it gives us both towards our future and our quality of life now.  It is easy to see how one can become accustomed to all of these benefits and make rash decisions when minor issues arise.  I want to make sure not fall into that same mindset and keep our lifestyle in check realizing what we have and why we are here.  Ultimately we are here to serve the Emirati people, to sustain life here in all sectors, to train in areas of need and bring the same quality that is expected anywhere else in the modern world.  In pursuit of completing these goals, we have the privilege to live here, experience rich diverse culture in an extremely safe and tolerant country.  In the world today I cannot think of a better scenario for those open and willing to explore the mystery of the unknown.  So here I am at seven months, my goal is to continue to try and stay "fresh" in Abu Dhabi remembering what we have and what a true privilege it is to be here.  By fresh I mean keeping the same open mind I had when I first came to the U.A.E., holding on to that curiosity that makes this place so amazing to be a part of and remembering to maintain that energy going forward.  This is one of the main reasons I have been recording all of these experiences since I arrived, to consider where I am going (in terms of attitude and state of mind) but most importantly remembering where I came from.  
                             


 

Abu Dhabi - Is the Honeymoon Phase Over?

          Depending on what expert you speak to on the buzz term "culture shock" there are a number of phases that individuals go through after moving to a new country and immersing themselves into a new culture.  The first phase is of course, the honey moon phase, where the differences between the old and new culture are seen in a romantic light.  For example, the interesting food, pace of life, and a myriad of other fascinating details that ignite curiosity.  But it is called a phase for a reason, because sadly, it eventually ends.
          The second phase is called the negotiation phase (or the real culture shock phase), experts put this phase at an average of three months give or take based on the individual.  The differences are not as fascinating as they once were and the negative differences start to emerge that begin to create a disconnection from the surroundings.  This can range from differences in hygiene, food quality and customer service.  This phase tends to bring about a lot of anxiety that slowly is resolved over time.  For me when I have been here, you just want things to make sense in the worst way.  And you start to lose the desire to try anymore, you just want people to understand you.
        If I had to make one observation that brings about anxiety at times I would have to say it is around customer service.  It is the glaring difference I have seen while integrating into the culture here.  In the states when things go wrong, typically the company bends over backwards to make it right.  Mostly because they know we as the consumer have a lot of options of retaliation that will end up being unpleasant (law suits, bad twitter comments, reporting to the BBB, etc).  However if something similar in nature happens here, the best you get typically is "I'm sorry".  It becomes frustrating when for example you order something and get the opposite, bring it to the attention of the waiter to get the classic "I'm sorry", and understand that you will still be eating what is in front of you, unless you would like to pay to try again.

The Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi

Inner Area Before Entering
The Grand Mosque

          One thing I learned about this particular scenario is that when you are giving instructions and you ask the other person if they understand and you get the response "yes yes yes" that roughly translates into "I have no clue what you are saying to me, so my default response is the word yes".  I have narrowed this issue down in cases revolving around the service industry because when someone comes here from somewhere else in the world for a service job, they are given a very specific set of instructions about their job function from their superior.  If you approach someone in this situation you will find that if you ask for something outside of this sandbox of instructions, they seem to have a short circuit.  Also when you ask outside the box questions there is usually no chance they will be helping you because there is too much risk on their side for doing something they were not told to do, even if it is common sense.    

Inside the Grand Mosque

Pool Outside the Grand Mosque

          I had a somewhat related issue at a local restaurant that serves Arabic food, where no matter what word I said on the menu I would get a lamb sandwich.  I asked for a Falafel wrap one day.  What did I get?  a lamb sandwich.  Another day I asked for a chicken garlic sandwich (called Shish Taouk), take a guess what I got... a lamb sandwich.  I never really figured out why I kept getting lamb sandwiches since Falafel and chicken sounds nothing like the word lamb, but there ya go.  I told the story at work and it is a classic now.  I was "the lamb sandwich guy" for a while (again retelling it to friends makes you realize how funny it actually is that it happened to you).  

Sarah Feeding Elephants

My New Monkey Friend

          The third phase is the adjustment period which averages six to twelve months again depending on the person.  Where routines are developed and the person knows what to do now in most situations.  The culture begins to make sense and therefore the individual begins to accept the cultures ways.  In my experience his is the phase where I can begin to laugh at the funny clashes I have had and how they have made for great stories.  It is easier to deal with any left over struggles because you have friends to rely on who have had similar experiences and enough routine to feel somewhat normal.  I have taken up the sport of squash which is kind of like racket ball with a smaller court, more rules, and a ball that dies very soon after it hits the ground.  I have a league of gentlemen I play with on Fridays and I am slowly climbing the ranks.  The sport of squash is very cardio intense and reliant on not just power of the shot but major strategy based on

U.S. vs Germany
In the Fairmont Football Tent

the location of your opponent.  I taught Sarah how to play as well.  Other than adopting squash we have also latched onto the world cup which as most know is popular in most of the world apart from the states.  But the U.S. is still in it so go U.S.!
          The final phase is that of mastery, where the person is able to participate fully and comfortably in the host culture.  This could also be considered the time where you accept the culture and the culture in turn accepts you.  I am not sure I have ever been able to completely reach this phase, I was close during my time in Ghana, but even there I still think I had so much to learn and adapt to.  We plan on living in Abu Dhabi much longer so perhaps I have a chance to complete the cycle here.
          The outcomes vary based on the person and based on what phase they stop at because of choice or a decision to leave the host country.  But basically you either find it impossible to adapt and reject the host culture, fully integrate yourself by accepting the local culture (called cultural assimilation) or you accept what you see as positive while holding on to many of your own aspects of culture (a unique blend).  The last category usually has no problem moving home or relocating elsewhere.

Qasr Al Sarab Library
(Basically a scene
from The Mummy)

          As for my own personal assessment, I would say I am still hanging on the edge of the honeymoon phase.  I have had my frustrations, but not to the extent that I would say I have a major issue with my surroundings.  My wife Sarah has noticed my tension level rising on some occasions, but my own internal sense of my surroundings is still very positive.  It all boils down to the fact that we are experiencing a life that so few will ever get the chance to.  That mixed with the fact that we are at the center of the world for travel, I can't even begin to explain how amazing that has already been.  I know eventually I will move to the next phase, but I can't stress enough how important it is to laugh about the things that happen to you.  You will not survive if you do not develop a sense of humor.  Plus (as mentioned my previous post) you get so many great stories from these situations and it is all about putting a positive spin on things.  Remember: a smile is universal in all cultures, so use it.  If you think about it,

Balcony at Qasr Al Sarab

Desert

the person or culture you are struggling with may have just as much struggle trying to help you.  But again the cultural curve is different for everyone so take the process a grain of salt, its possible to go in and out of various phases for a while also.
          So thus far into our journey we have made many changes that show we are ready to settle here for the long term (we even added a member to our family: Maxim or Max, See video above).  The last month or so has been spent enjoying our new home country.  We visited the Emirates zoo with Leo and his family.  Where we fed elephants and giraffes.  I would like to call out that this is one of the times where differences in culture worked in our favor.  I even shook hands with a monkey, something that would take much more effort in the states.  We also were able to feed monkeys, giraffes and elephants.  One elephant feeding ticket gets you a giant bucket of bananas which they eat whole, I'm not sure why I was surprised at that but I was.

The Desert

Post "Dune Bashing"
(You can tell I look sick)

          We toured the Grand Mosque with some friends as well, a Mosque initiated by the late president of the U.A.E., Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nayhan who's final resting place is also on the grounds.  It is a magnificent site and a must see if you ever find yourself in Abu Dhabi.  You have to dress up for the site and all women entering the site must cover everything but their face including their hair as well.  Sarah had her first experience wearing a Hijab (head covering) and an Abaya (cloak or dress covering the body) that they loan out to women visiting the Grand Mosque.

Desert Sunset

          We also booked a nice catamaran cruise out to an island off the coast that only appears during low tide.  It was a wonderful trip to enjoy before the beginning of Ramadan.  For those not privy to the month of Ramadan, it is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar where Muslims worldwide observe this as a month of fasting.  Ramadan translated from Arabic loosely means extreme heat or dryness and is the most holy month of the year in Islam.  I have decided to join in the fast as a way of integrating myself into the culture.  I am on day three of the fast and let me say it is very difficult.  While fasting you basically cannot put anything in your mouth (including water) from dawn until sunset.  You can actually get in trouble with the police if you are caught eating, drinking or smoking in public during these hours.  I usually start struggling around three o'clock, thankfully Ramadan working hours are from nine in the morning until three in the afternoon.  So I have been taking naps during the fast when needed.  Fasting is always regarded as holy (in many religions) but during this month the rewards are believed to be multiplied.  At the end of the month the fasting is broken by the holiday of Eid (Eed) Al Fitr which is kind of like the Christmas for Islam.  This is determined every year when the crescent moon is sighted (Ramadan begins with the crescent moon as well).  I cannot believe how much my senses are up without being weighed down by food.  I will say I can understand why you get in trouble for eating in public, when I am around food or smell it before the fast is over for the day, its just a horrible feeling.  It is just mean to do to someone who is fasting, so its more of a respect thing really.

           Apart from gaining cultural knowledge from fasting during Ramadan Sarah and I also stayed at Qasr Al Sarab last weekend, which is a very nice hotel staged in the middle of the desert.  Its about two hours from Abu Dhabi and let me just say it is the real desert.  This place is what in my ignorance, I expected to see when we first arrived in the U.A.E., but alas all I saw were tall buildings all around me.  This place had the legit sand dunes as far as the eye could see and the heat to go with it.  It was close to 50 degrees Celsius which is about 122 degrees Fahrenheit.  The resort is themed around the traditional Arabic culture and is located in the largest uninterrupted sand mass in the world.  We were fortunate enough to be upgraded to a king terrace where we could look out into the desert.  While there we enjoyed "dune bashing", I'm sure all the Michiganders know what this is (My home state of Michigan has great sand dunes for bashing too), but for all others, it is where you off road vehicles up and down the angles of the dunes almost like a roller coaster ride.  It was fun, but I think I ate too many dates before hand because I got sick about halfway through.  The trip ended with a picnic in the middle of the desert to watch the sunset.  I didn't tell Sarah, but I had the theme song to the movie The Mummy playing in my head pretty much during the entire trip...it was awesome.

Dates at the Resort

          We also enjoyed the local cuisine.  Dates and Arabic coffee were always free (which is probably why I ate too many) to encourage everyone to try the staple of the region (dates are also typically used to break the fast at sunset during Ramadan as a quick sugar boost before chowing down).  What is so surprising to me is I typically can't stand the taste of coffee (I drink tea), but I love Arabic coffee.  Sarah says it is because it has so many spices in it (rose water, saffron and cardamom).  But let me tell you, a small cup of Arabic coffee gives quite a kick.
          During our stay I noticed a rather large sand dune off our balcony that I insisted I must climb before we left (we only stayed one night, the sand dune it on the far right in the balcony video).  Sarah and I set out

Catamaran Cruise on the Arabian Gulf

the day we were leaving to climb the dune with a bottle of water each.  Sarah ended up stopping at the beginning, but I kept on as I was determined to reach the top (archaeology nerd fact: all sand dunes form at 33-34 degree angles also called The angle of repose, see my video below for full details).  I can honestly say after that experience that I can see how easy it would be to die in the desert.  That scorching heat does funny things to your body, making you dizzy and disoriented.  You also get very fatigued before you begin to realize it and the water loss from your body is extensive.  After I made it to the top I stumbled down, drank about a gallon of water at the hotel and Sarah and I went off for a nap.  Following our nap we had a swim in the pool with some sangria and beer before we had to leave our desert oasis and head back to our home in Abu Dhabi.  At home we greeted our guard kitty Max at the door who was eagerly awaiting our return (he's more like a dog than a cat).
 So is the honeymoon phase over?  I say no I do not think so.  I love Abu Dhabi, its rich culture and all the other cultures who have clustered here in this city to make it a great place to live.  In a place where there are more than 200 countries represented, you cant help but expect some clash.  However when you think about the richness in culture all gathered in one place, what a unique and amazing experience.  How many other places in the world have something like this?  Currently the team (Soumya, Azhar & Vishwanath) I am working with is off shore in Bangalore, India, this is just one of the many great cultural experiences I am enjoying at the moment.  They have already made a business trip here to Abu Dhabi with their families and it has been a pleasure to spend time with them and their families.

The Offshore Team and I
Enjoying the Indian Dish
called Thali

          With all of this in mind how can you help but smile and marvel at the fact that you are a part of this great adventure.  So with an open mind, a positive attitude charged with a smile, take it all in and let it all happen to you.  Adjusting to a new culture is a once in a lifetime experience and one I hope everyone can go through at some point in their lives, in my experience these are the times when you learn the most about yourself when learning about other people and their unique cultural backgrounds.  It's alright to be the misfit, in fact I would so bold as to say its downright awesome.