Day 69 of my captivity

Tyler was here to visit for a few days, it was so good to see him. It was funny, the first thing he said was how different things smelled and how bad the pollution was. I remember that too, from my first visit. I am not the only one who thinks things smell different, and to me everything tastes different too. I have said before that the diet pepsi here tastes more like diet coke in the US, and the catsup from Egypt tastes different from the US. Even the fast food that is fried tastes different, I guess the oil is different.

We got our first electric bill and water bill. Electric was $48.00 and water was (are you ready?) $.60. not $60.00, $.60. Isn’t that hilarious? It will cost more to send the water bill in than the water bill itself.

Day 55 of my captivity

We spend several days in Muscat Oman for our Eid holiday, at the Shangri-La Hotel. It was one of the nicest resorts I have ever seen, and the most amazing location. The resort is tucked back in the Oman Mountains, along the Gulf of Oman. We went snorkeling and saw the same fish that we used to have in our fish tank. Eric swam with a turtle and we saw some huge coral. It was so beautiful. Then we went on a sunset cruise and the tour guide told us about several of the villages along the sea. There are several British villages still there. We saw goats on a rock, an old castle that is now the jail. There were two cemeteries, one the guide told us was from a British shipwreck, the other was Hindu, it had black sand and the guide told us that it was black from the ghosts that haunt it. The last day we went on a catamaran and watches dolphins. We spent the rest of the day off road. I would have been just fine missing that part of the trip, but John and Eric enjoyed it. The only good part about that trip was I picked up a few beautiful pieces of rough marble.
I also picked up some really pretty shells on the beach, to find out later that some were still alive. So when we got back, we set them free at our beach. I don’t think their immigration papers are in order, but hope they make good friends anyway. So sorry little crabs, won’t make that mistake again.

Day 54 of my captivity

Day 50 of my captivity

This weekend marks the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid. For muslims it is is a time to give to charity and a time of gift giving (especially to children) and a time to get together with relatives. In most muslim countries, this is a three day official holiday. Can you say p-a-r-t-y. For us it is a week vacation from school. We are going to Oman for a couple of days to scuba dive, and snorkel and Tyler is coming to visit. Yeah!!!

Day 49 of my captivity

I have seen a few UPS and DSL vans. But there is not much of a postal service in Abu Dhabi. The way to get mail is by post office boxes through the company that you work for. So to have mail delivered to you, you have to have a job in the country. And in order to work and live in the UAE, you have to have a job from a company in the country. That company becomes your sponsor. If you lose your job then you have to leave. Your sponsor verifies your employment so you can get your residency visa, a lease for a place to live, a drivers license, to lease a car, and get a liquor license (yes you have to have a license to buy liquor, and your letter from your sponsor has to say you are not Muslim).
We don’t really have an address at the apartment either. We have an apartment number (301) and the name of the building. But the building has a different name on the front than on the back. Then there is an area of town. You don’t give someone an address to find your home, instead you give directions. You would tell them the area of town, and the building name. Most people don’t go by street names, they give directions by landmarks.
You won’t see any homeless people around either. They will be sent back to wherever they came from. Also there isn’t a lot of trash on the streets or graffiti. There is always someone around to pick it up or clean it. One of those government workers in a brightly colored jump suit (that I wrote about earlier) is always close by to pick it up or clean it. Every morning on the same corner is the same little guy with his red (sort of pink) jumpsuit with a broom and trash can cleaning the street.

Day 46 of my captivity

Our earth is like a child who has grown up without parents, having no one to guide and direct her. Some have attempted to help her, but most have simply tried to use her. Humans who have been given the task to lovingly steer the world, instead plunder her, with no consideration other than their immediate needs. And they give little thoughts to their own children, who will inherit their lack of love. So they use her and abuse her with little consideration, and then when she shudders or blows her breath, they are offended and raise their fist at God. –from the shack

Day 44 of my captivity

We had the best day yesterday at the fruit and vegetable and meat market. We filled up the back of the car with fruit and vegetables and 2 kg. of filets fresh from Australia. It was awesome. I spent the next two hours cleaning and cutting it all. The fish market is next.