The other night we got to go to an Emirati wedding - our principal's brother was getting married.
Weddings are a huge deal here and can be held on any night of the week - this was a Wednesday. They tend to start at 8pm so we got there at 9pm, dressed up as you can see from the pic. But nothing compared to the Emirati women - they were amazing - tight dresses with clevage, hair and make up extreme - amazing!
Now we only celebrated with the women - women and men have seperate venues - although close. However we could see the men through video on data shows - their event looked boring compared to ours.
There was a live singer with four exotic (as in exotic, nudge nudge) dancers who gyrated around the stage - even Kalala and I blushed and weren't sure where to look.
The food flowed enbdlessly - no alcohol of course! Main course was served at 11pm - how I wasn't snoring in my plate of rice I'll never know! the bride arrived about 11.15pm - it took her 20 mins to walk in and up onto stage where she proceeded to walk across - like a Miss Universe pagent before sitting down. There were professional videos and cameras everywhere. She was very very slim, very young looking and very nervous. Her dress was beautiful - little diamonds sewn in and the train was long of course.
About midnight, her groom and his male escorts (family) came to 'collect' her. She was so happy to see him. They cut the cake and he sang a poem he had written for her. Even though they couldn't hold hands when sitting for their formal portraits, you could tell they were so happy to be marrying each other.
Amazing experience - food, decorations, mucis - the work and cost that went in was incredible. Very honoured to have been invited.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Reflecting on my time here
Wow so a year of the reform contract is nearly over - before I head off for my exciting holiday, thought I'd reflect a little and share what looking back on this year has shown me.
The not so great aspects:
I have missed my family and my friends more than I thought possible. I love hearing from them and know that they think of me regularly. I am extremely lucky to have Kalala and family here and now Brent, and my mum was here for 3 months…but still I miss the ups and downs of the lives of the people I love at home.
The frustrations that come from language or cultural barriers – while these experiences have made me stronger, the stress I went through with my lost passport was more than I could believe was possible. I would love to just say “Look there’s an easier way to do this” but who says my way is right? (Apart from years of it working with no stress!)
Finding a balance – I know you get this anywhere – but I find it hard at times to do work, keep life ticking over, go to the gym, see friends, travel….despite having good funds to do this – time is of the essence. And I’m an organized person! The heat and processes here do slow things down a bit.
We are all sure the worst drivers in the world are here in the UAE. Large 4x4s travelling at nearly (and sometimes more than) 200km/hr on the highways freak me out but happen on every trip. My Mum can attest to this for the NZ crew!
But the upsides are:
My adventures – every day brings new learning or experiences. I visit places I didn’t think I ever would and have more of that to look forward to.
The people I work with – both expats and locals – I have made many wonderful friends and am learning more about their lives. As a friend said: “The UAE is a truly multicultural, though intensely culturally and economically stratified, country.”
The cultural aspects and beliefs of this place are solid - the call to prayer happens five times a day and it is so routine now we don't even notice it really. Measina still joins in the call occasionally!
Experiencing some of the different things - the sand, the sand, the sand, the heat, the lack of rain and subsequent dryness, the date palms and camels, dunes, forts and palaces, shaylas and abaya, dish dashs…all part of the scene here.
And of course the work – I do believe in the reform – sometimes I despair about whether the change will ever happen but then I see little glimpses of movement or what is possible and it keeps me going.
So there you have it - the experience so far.
The not so great aspects:
I have missed my family and my friends more than I thought possible. I love hearing from them and know that they think of me regularly. I am extremely lucky to have Kalala and family here and now Brent, and my mum was here for 3 months…but still I miss the ups and downs of the lives of the people I love at home.
The frustrations that come from language or cultural barriers – while these experiences have made me stronger, the stress I went through with my lost passport was more than I could believe was possible. I would love to just say “Look there’s an easier way to do this” but who says my way is right? (Apart from years of it working with no stress!)
Finding a balance – I know you get this anywhere – but I find it hard at times to do work, keep life ticking over, go to the gym, see friends, travel….despite having good funds to do this – time is of the essence. And I’m an organized person! The heat and processes here do slow things down a bit.
We are all sure the worst drivers in the world are here in the UAE. Large 4x4s travelling at nearly (and sometimes more than) 200km/hr on the highways freak me out but happen on every trip. My Mum can attest to this for the NZ crew!
But the upsides are:
My adventures – every day brings new learning or experiences. I visit places I didn’t think I ever would and have more of that to look forward to.
The people I work with – both expats and locals – I have made many wonderful friends and am learning more about their lives. As a friend said: “The UAE is a truly multicultural, though intensely culturally and economically stratified, country.”
The cultural aspects and beliefs of this place are solid - the call to prayer happens five times a day and it is so routine now we don't even notice it really. Measina still joins in the call occasionally!
Experiencing some of the different things - the sand, the sand, the sand, the heat, the lack of rain and subsequent dryness, the date palms and camels, dunes, forts and palaces, shaylas and abaya, dish dashs…all part of the scene here.
And of course the work – I do believe in the reform – sometimes I despair about whether the change will ever happen but then I see little glimpses of movement or what is possible and it keeps me going.
So there you have it - the experience so far.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Peg's Gone
So dropped Mum off at the airport this am - so weird to know she's still flying and isn't home yet! NZ is such a loooooooooong way away! Has been wonderful to have her here, helping me out and doing things. She really enjoyed her Europe trip and has lots of stories for everyone back home.
Four weeks to go of work - things have really slowed down and it's warming up - averaging about 47-48 degrees daily.
Not much else to report - final oragnisation of holiday being done now - very cool.
Have a few people thinking of coming over to work here - fingers crossed that I can create my own little NZ away from NZ!
Four weeks to go of work - things have really slowed down and it's warming up - averaging about 47-48 degrees daily.
Not much else to report - final oragnisation of holiday being done now - very cool.
Have a few people thinking of coming over to work here - fingers crossed that I can create my own little NZ away from NZ!
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