Of course Dubai is wonderful...

So I sit here thinking of what to say, trying to think of all the lessons I have had over the years by the countless teachers I have had. Some teachers were in a classroom setting others in the "real world" and the best of course were my parents whom I am truly thankful to and think is the reason I am who I am today. All the clichés run through my head that you had "heard a million times" that allow you to be a better person and stand above the people whom have wronged you. I will not bore you will a list although for comic relief I am sure there would have been chuckles at a few of them... Alas, (Not Halas for in Arabic means finished or done, oh no dear readers I am just getting started...) I sit roughly 3 weeks now from leaving this illusion of a city, a city that I have grown to enjoy I will admit, but still get frustrated with more than I can imagine at times.

(*Side note: I will be ranting for a bit so please if you need to take a break I understand)


Let me tell you the story that has prompted me into telling my tale of woe. I went to the theater last night to see Angels and Daemons, the Dan Brown novel now lining the pockets of Tom Hanks once again. I wanted to see it ever since I read the book and thought that it surely would be made into cinematic art or at least a good way to spend a few hours one night... The three of us, Shelley, Sean and I went and got out tickets and lined up for stuff at the counter to keep our energy levels high the whole time we are sitting watching said thriller. I have become accustom to individuals in this culture cutting a head of people in lines, usually it is stoic men who have a freshly pressed Kandora on (Dish dash is what it is commonly called) who believe it is their right to not wait in line and cut in front of everyone. Now this is not all people or men here but there is a vast amount of entitlement that goes on here that is for another rant and another time. As I said the cutting in of lines is one thing, service is quick here for the most part so even with some ignorant person cutting in front of you, you do not wait long but as we sit down in the theater with our treats in hand we listen to the talk around us. This is USUALLY hushed tones while we watch the 40 min of trailers before the movie, but not here full conversations are going on and people are on their mobile phones laughing and talking to their friends. I have yet to get a full grasp on the local language here so I could not tell you what they were saying but one could guess it is similar conversation that anyone would be having before the movie starts in North America....oh wait....you make your phone calls out side and then sit down to watch the movie back home. So the movie starts and few have actually started to quite down people are still getting seated and eating their popcorn and nachos as loudly as possible (Nacho Cheese maybe one of the gross smells that only seam slightly appealing once you have consumed a full bottle of Jagermeister). The gentleman to my right is talking and letting his friends know what is going on in regards to the physics of colliding protons and electrons together which is how the movie starts instead of shutting the hell up and enjoying this nice piece of FICTION. I last 15 minutes before I want to strangle him and instead I ask politely if he could be quiet during the movie. He gave me a look like I slapped his mother and kept on talking...


I figured it was best to move to another seat as in the great country I live in it really is who you know that gets you ahead in life and with that you annoy someone here you can be asked to leave the country quite quickly and charges can be brought against you that you did not even know existed as law. I felt it was best to bite my tongue and move to an area that was less populated leaving my friend behind to enjoy the quantum physics discussion that was going on in that row. Little did I know that my efforts to move to a quieter area of the theater were for not...as there were three lovely ladies in their local attire that needed to laugh and discuss every part of the Catholic faith that they found amusing and repulsing. I know little of the Catholic faith, I was raised Catholic light and I was not offended as a Catholic but as a person who feels that the double standards that exist in this country are laughable. I cannot say anything against the Muslim religion, nor would I want to. I have learned that the teachings of the Muslim faith are those of peace and harmony with all things great and small. It like Catholicism believes that the strength of the religion is love and understanding, it is the men and women who are flawed who skew the faith into something that can breed hate and intolerance. So when I hear these women laughing and talking about the movie I do not feel I can do anything except try to ignore them. I do see the user who hopefully would ask them to shut the hell up but he does not want to leave the country either and says nothing. The movie, which I would like to see again, is a good movie and defiantly worth seeing, I did miss a fair amount as I was plotting ways to shut the women up but hey I guess that is the price you pay for living in a country that has no taxes (yet) and a warm climate.


When the bubble bursts here and it is coming sooner than later for this country I sure am curious to see what will happen and if anyone will be willing to bail out people who have a reputation for being too high class to help a neighbor out. I am a tech teacher but I do wish sometimes that we could go back to a time of my father's youth and according to his stories you made sure you helped your neighbor out and friends were always welcome over for supper.


Well after reading this over again and seeing if I should cut some out...which I did do. I feel that this means it is time for a break, 3 weeks to go and I can see my family and friends again, I cannot wait. Going to a cliché for a second it is really funny how the "grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" but once you jump it you realize that there is as much cow shit on this side as the one you came from and sometimes there is monkey and camel shit to deal with too that you did not know was even here. Funny how life works I guess.


Oh and life is not bad here at all, I still love it, it is super hot out, it has not rained for 3 months and I have golfed at some of the best courses in the world, I have great friends here and a job that I love. I think I usually talk about the positives here but last night was a little more that I was willing to put up with and that is why I think when the DVD lady comes around next time to sell a copy of movies that are in the theater or have not even been released yet I will buy it, pop my own popcorn and sit and watch it at home.

Golfing with Gary, The Heat and my Birthday...

A few weeks back I was lucky enough to golf in my second tournament here in Dubai and won it. the prize was a round of golf at the Majlis, Emirates Golf Course, a clinic lesson from Gary Player and to golf the 7th hole a par 3 with Mr. Player. I woke up in the morning and I was very excited to be doing all three and to tell the truth even just one of those things would have sent me over the moon. The Majlis course is 250 US to play on it; it is where the Desert Classic is played each year in January. It was a beautiful course and very well designed. I was playing with 3 other guys and one of which is a kid by the name of Matthew Turner who played in the last Desert Classic and made the cut at 17 years old. He was a treat to watch play golf. I had always thought of myself as a bit of a long ball hitter but after watching this kids swing I am a mid range golfer. He was out driving me by 50 yards on every drive and on the long drive hole the winner had me by well over 75 yards. it was unreal to see the club head speed of Matt, and he was in control too which was even more impressive. So I got to the course where we warmed up and hit some balls before the tournament, Gary Player had his Clinic that he talked about some of his accomplishments and how he practices and prepares for a tournament or even a game of golf. He is 73 years old and still does over 1000 sit-ups everyday. He talked about fitness and how obesity is killing the youth of today and even called out a few people in the crowd to tell them that they are killing themselves. I am happy I was not sitting up front when he started to dole out his advice...He said that every amateur should have at least one hybrid in his bag and to get rid of the 3, 4, and even 5 iron if they are not playing 2-3 times a week. he said that everyone should get a weighted club to swing with to get the feel for and also to be able to swing it right and left handed so that you are always balanced in your swing and strength. it was very interesting to see him hit a ball too it was so smooth and effortless. He did talk about Tiger Woods a great deal too in his mental strength is second to none. He talked about anyone who does not have the mental strength and will to win will never succeed in golf or in life. It was a great time and I was really glad to be there to listen to him talk.

We started on the 18th hole as it was a shotgun start I had envisioned all of the best golfers who had ever played on this course standing on this tee box waiting to go after this hole in 2 shots, there is water in front of the green and it is not as easy shot at all. I laid up and got a birdie out of the hole which i was very happy with of course and even Matt Turner said it was a great birdie, always good when a kid almost half your age and being a scratch handicap said he was impressed with your shots. The rest of the round went really well, we were playing a team stable ford so the top two scores on the hole are the ones that counted. Myself and Matt took most of the scores as the other guys were dead weight and the high handicapper in the group could not make a shot to save his life...I am thinking he cried to himself when he was driving his Ferrari home to his model wife. He was a good guy and had more cash then he knew what to do with but could not golf to save his life. It was fun to watch at times. On the 7th hole we got to play the hole with Gary and I have to admit I was nervous to hit a ball in front of him but I blocked everything out when it was my turn and hit a fantastic shot about 8 feet from the pin. Mr. Player threw his hands up and said it was one of the nicest swings he had seen all day and asked me what I played off of. I had told him it was a 14 to which he asked if I was part of the handicap committee where I can give myself a way higher handicap than I am playing off. I smiled and thanked him and then realized that Gary just called me a sandbagger...ha ha good times. The rest of the round went amazing and I walked away with a 81 and 3 putted 4 holes. I was very happy with the golf that day!! We went to the dinner afterwards it was a real feast and I did realize how much money I do not make... I was happy that one of the guys in my group was like me and we hit it off well. Paul Dow had a rough day but he was a rugby player from England so we found lots of things to talk about and even laugh at the fact we did not belong at this event. I did get my name in a Raffle and won a ticket for another raffle where the duty free shop at the airport is giving away a car and only 500 tickets are sold for it, so here is hoping my name gets drawn for that!!

The weather is no jumped to well over 40 degrees every day, while I hear in Alberta it is a balmy 15 degrees most days, I have a feeling I will be shivering for a few weeks when I get back again. I am happy to put up with it though to see everyone again, I am excited to just be back and enjoy the little things that you tend to completely forget about when you get into a daily routine. I know that I will receive no sympathy for the heat but it is something that can be a bit much especially the last few weeks we are here in June, it will be over 50 most days....uggh.

last but not least it is my birthday this week...32... hard to believe that I am in Dubai for it. 10 years ago, which feels like a lifetime I would not have guessed that I would be out of the country in my 30s let alone starting my life and career here has been quite amazing. I have had an amazing last 2 years and really am looking forward to where my life is going to go next.

anyway 6 and a half weeks I will be back in Canada!! I am looking forward to it!