Great excitement!

Great excitement yesterday as it rained!  This may not sound like much but in a country where rain is a rarity it is a big event.  Needless to say my girls at school spent half the afternoon outside running around, acting crazy.  The interesting thing is that it wasn't just the children who were excited, the adults were too.

It must be an omen, as the only other time it's really rained is when my son arrived at Christmas.  Today my sister arrives but I'm not sure if it's still raining as it's dark outside.

The apartment is cleaned, the beds are made and the excitement is rising.  She should have landed at Dubai airport by now so I've been checking my texts to see if she's on wifi there.  She is taking the Emirates bus into Abu Dhabi and I'm meeting her downtown at the bus stop.  That's if I can find it!  All this time and I still have been unable to locate it.  But progress as I've just printed off a map so that should help me.

I've rented a car for the few days she is here.  Last night when I picked it up I was nervous due to the rain.  As you know, drivers here are shocking on a good day, much less when it's raining.  There is no such thing as following distances or allowing for wet roads.  So I'm hoping today will be okay while I'm out driving.

It works out much cheaper to get a car for the few days at 100 dirhams a day as I want to go to places that aren't close to home, such as the Grand Mosque, Yas Island and the beach.  The rental place have given me a nice powerful Toyota Corolla so I can zip away at the lights.  Getting better cars each time I rent now.

We also had great excitement at our apartment building this week as a workers cage was thrown around by high winds and smashed into a window.  Shattered glass rained down on the podium which is our leisure area so people were running like crazy to get away.  The area and pools have been closed since while they removed the cage (which took 5 days as they waited for the wind to abate) and cleaned the area and pools to ensure there is no broken glass lying around.  Hopefully it's open again for the sister to enjoy.

I've had my legs waxed, my eyebrows tinted, my hair cut and coloured so I'm all ready to go on our big vacation.

Look out for the next entry.  I'm hoping I may be able to get my big sis to write a guest column while she is here, lazing around while I'm at work.

Water, water, everywhere!

Wow!  Isn’t it nice to hear that even at my age I can be an inspiration to someone younger?

I was visiting my lovely young (probably 30ish) Indian physiotherapist for my final visit on Thursday when she began our session by telling me that I’d inspired her.

Feeling flattered as she’s young, fit, successful (Head of Department in a new hospital) I wondered what I’d done to be getting this acclaim.  It turns out that my determined effort to keep swimming even when my shoulder hurt had inspired her to begin swimming.

So what a nice way to end 8 sessions of physio.  I have to say the respect is mutual as she is the best physio I have ever attended by a long shot.  I no longer have pain in my shoulder joint and those who know me well understand how long I’ve lived with that.  I still have a bit of discomfort at times in the shoulder blade area but with regular exercise this should diminish.  So I’ve been very impressed with her. 

Another ‘magical’ treatment she used was the use of ultrasound as a pain reliever.  I don’t understand why I’ve never had this in NZ but it is like a wonder drug without any drugs.  It’s different than the buzzy, tingling ultrasound I’ve experienced back home.  This one you don’t feel at all but it works wonders.

We were both disappointed to find it was my last session but I’ve now applied for some treatment on my elbow (another long-standing area of pain).  Hopefully the relationship can continue for another couple of weeks.

As a regular at the hospitel (her version of hospital meaning hospital and hotel combined) I’ve come across some of the most helpful staff around.  They think they are busy and overworked but the caring treatment is world class.  Most of the nurses are Filipino and Drs are Indian, French or Lebanese.  So very multi cultural.  I’ve found a wonderful GP who treats me like a long-lost friend and is always happy to see me.

You have to see this hospital to believe it.  It’s called Burjeel and is part of a large Indian chain.  I know this because I saw it on a TV documentary about the money in health care being poured into the UAE from some of the best centers in the world.

As you pull up out the front there is valet parking.  Inside is the concierge’s desk with staff ready to help you.  The foyer contains comfortable individual chairs.  A fountain tinkles in the background.  Inside the GP waiting room small comfortable benches await you.  Water is always available from dispensers while often staff bring around fruit juice.

I see luggage boys with their trolleys taking patients bags (including embroidered pillows) up to rooms.  Security is everywhere and they are extremely helpful.  Doctors speak to you in the lifts and hold the doors for you.

All this adds to the impression that you are in a hotel which is what they are trying to achieve.

Mind you, I had an ‘only in Abu Dhabi’ moment there last week.  I shake my head in disbelief as I recall it.

I had been sent up to dermatology by my GP to see about getting a veruka frozen.  When I finally found the department, right next to physio where I’d started from, I approached the counter to make my appointment.

As I’m waiting for the guy to finish his (personal) phone call I turn back towards the door I’d come through.  Only to see water seeping at an alarming rate across the floor from the door to a bathroom.  I say to the guy, “You’ve got water all over your floor.”  He stands up, looks over the counter, says, “Oh my god!”  Then picks up the phone and makes three phone calls in quick succession.

All the while I’m standing there thinking why doesn’t he go and turn off the tap.  I look down at my shoes and decide I’m not going to do it.  Obviously I’ve been here too long!  Then the security guard arrives, takes one look and races into the bathroom.  At last, I think to myself, someone with some sense.  I hear the sound of gushing water.  She takes one look in there and retreats at high speed to summon help.  Still no-one has turned off the tap if that’s what it was.

The water continues to spread and I step back as it puddles around me.  It seeps under the front counter towards the photocopier but still the guy just phones people.  Finally the cleaner man arrives and races in through the huge puddle and turns off the tap!

Another cleaner arrives and the two of them sweep the water back into the bathroom, over the lip of the doorframe and down the outlet.  Meanwhile now two security guards look on, apologising profusely when I leave, having to step over the puddle.

I was tempted to take a photo of four people standing looking at this situation.  I even got my phone out but was wary of security.

Obviously everyone here knows their job description.

                                                                                                                       

Only in Abu Dhabi!

Ramblings

The weeks are flying by with only three more weeks of the school term left.  Thank goodness is all I can say.  Work seems to be getting crazier and crazier, all of which is weird as our school is closing come July.

We had to hand in our Teacher Evaluation Portfolios on Thursday.  Basically this is an awful waste of time as we have to provide evidence for each outcome that we will be evaluated against as professionals.  One main problem I have is that we are not treated as professionals, rather as trainee teachers.  Of course that doesn't sit well with me as I consider myself an experienced teacher with plenty to contribute.  But not here.  There are no career advancement opportunities available, unless you have a Masters Degree.

I had a humorous email from my Aussie V8 mate regarding my last post about the Pope.  He was informing me that the rapid decline in health was due to his and his wife's visit to mass at the Vatican last year while they were here for Formula One.  He thinks it was just too much for Benedict to cope with.  He's probably right!  This snippet had me nearly collapsing with laughter, so much so that the teenager asked what was so funny.  Having met him, he joined in the laughter.

The second joke took me a minute or two to get.  He was informing me that fish caught in NZ waters wasn't safe to eat due to high lead levels.

You probably all got that as the joke may be old news for you but we're a bit more isolated here.

It was one of my new Irish friend's birthday last night so a large group of women and one brave husband headed out to the Rocco Forte Hotel.  Finally I got to hang out where both my boys do or did.  But this was an evening with a difference.  Ladies night!  These are very popular here but usually are on weeknights.  Luckily this one was on a weekend so my friend from the desert and I got dolled up and headed out in a taxi.

Ladies nights are put on by the flash hotels which sell alcohol to get punters in.  Basically they give the women free drinks and the men flock in to watch and hopefully pick up the drunk girls.

We got a card which was marked each time we had a drink and got five free cocktails.  We started with a Margarita then a white Sangria (mmmm mmmm) then a unpronounceable drink.  Five cocktails was enough for me anyway.

One odd aspect of the evening (apart from the balding, older men hanging around looking for a companion & the Russian pros with 6 inch stilettos) was all the women who smoked.  It was the first time I've been into a nightclub bar here and was shocked at the smoking.  Nearly all the Irish women and the English teachers were smoking.  Of course, all the Arab men smoke all the time.

Afterwards we decided to walk across the road to KFC and get something to eat.  You can imagine that was great for me (don't eat KFC) but it was another eye-opener.  What struck us kiwis was the number of kids, including babies, out eating at 1am.  Yes, that's right, 1am!  Babies crying, kids just about sleep-walking but hey, that's life in UAE.  No wonder the kids can't stay awake at school.  It is such a different life.    One group had three men, 2 woman and about 5 kids, one a tiny baby.  Another group was four woman with kids.  I never cease to be shocked here.

Then we had another taxi driver from hell take us home.  He must have been on a curfew as he practically flew.  I thought I was going to throw up as we rounded the last corner to home.  I can't tell you how thankful I was to get out of that cab.

Arriving home I checked at the door to make sure all was quiet, which it was.  We went in, still quiet, and on checking I found an extra three bodies asleep.  Luckily they'd left the couch for my friend.

This morning it was up for a swim before it got too hot.  I managed 14 lengths and I have to praise my physiotherapist as it was the first time since being here that I've swam without shoulder pain.

The weather is warming up and the pool is becoming too hot already.  It's been up to 32 degrees in the lap pool which was way too hot to swim.  The outside temperature is also hot but the poolside is filled with scantily clad girls sunbathing in their bikinis.  I feel sorry for the workers as it must be such a temptation for them wandering around and trying not to stare.  The tennis courts and basketball court is still getting a hammering while the weather holds.

I've scheduled my walk tomorrow for 7pm as it was far to hot last week when we went at 4pm.  As there is no shade round the area we've decided to go later, once the sun has set.

With the weather warming up here, I'm hoping that it's warming up in Amsterdam for our tulip frolick.  It's got into double figures Switzerland but back to snow and below freezing this week.  I've been out trying to buy some warmer pants to wear so might follow up on some I found on special for 25 AED.  Very tight though which is how the Egyptian woman wear them.  That's why I didn't buy them last week but will go back and see if they are still there.  Strangely there is a massive amount of thicker pants and thousands of fur trimmed jerseys and jackets in the shops here.  Obviously they cater to the European tourist who comes here to shop.

Well, if you can't beat them, join them!

This one's for you, Pam!

And here's to you, Mrs. Pamela

Viking loves you more than you will know (Wo, wo, wo)

God bless you please, Mrs. Pamela

Emirates holds a place for those who pay

(Hey, hey, hey...hey, hey, hey)

I just couldn't resist it!

What an exciting day I've had.  It all began when the doorbell rang.  Now, it always takes me a few seconds to figure out what the loud noise is as it doesn't ring that often.  The teenager has his own ring tone - repeatedly, so I know when it's him.  The other issue is that the bell rings over in the kitchen rather than by the door so it just doesn't sit right.

I jump up (as it's so far from my chair by the window over to the door) and rush over to check out who is there through the peep hole.  A man I don't know but I open the door anyway.

To find it's the Fedex man!  Yes!  He's holding a parcel for me and I know what it contains.

He scans and I sign and take the package.

Once I'm back inside I grab the scissors and cut it open.  To find the most wonderful goodies inside.

I hope my photography can do justice to the bits and pieces inside.

 Two travel document bags and a Viking brochure.

One travel document bag with the brochure.

 Document bag opened up.

 OMG!  It's got your name on it.

 Close up of your name and country.

  Luggage labels.

 I think we may be going to be the youngest on this trip.

 Whoever thought they'd see the day that my name wasn't associated with New Zealand?  All the rich old Yanks on the trip will think I'm a wealthy Arab.  

My documents.

 A Viking longship sticker.

 Back view of the travel pouch with zip pocket for passport.

 Information book with all our destinations plus additional tours we can choose to do.  Most seem to be around 39 pounds.

 Your welcome aboard letter.  This man thinks just like you do.  I like his opening sentence.  One of the most important aspects of travel is anticipation.

Front view of pouch.

 Contents page of booklet.

Ship and room details.

You almost feel like you're already there.

Can you find our room?  I'm sure we'll be pleased that we paid extra to get an opening window.  We'll need it in the minus temperatures that Switzerland is having at the moment.

Staff/passenger ratio is 1/4.  Not bad.

With only 16 days before our trip the anticipation is rising as are the excitement levels.  High tea at Etihad Towers is booked.  The time will go so quickly once big sister arrives here that I'm sure we won't do half of what I've got planned, especially as I will still be at work that week.

Watch this space!