Hello from the emirate of Abu Dhabi and the city of Al Ain. It's been far too long since I've written in this blog. In fact, I'm sure some of you are probably wondering if I'd forgotten about it completely. Truth be told, I've put off writing in it because I've been so busy with day to day life. Sometimes by the time I make it home from school I feel like I need to collapse and move into a vegetative state, but I guess that's the price you pay for keeping up with 34 second graders. Other times I am busy planning, grading or just keeping the apartment up. I did join a gym here, but I haven't even been good about keeping that up. I think I need to resolve to do some things more regularly.
Anyway, I will try to pick up where I left off. . . . .
Thailand was a blast... the second half of the trip was definitely more relaxing than the first. I found the beaches and everywhere to be a lot busier than the Philippines, but it was also high season so that was to be expected. I think the weirdest thing for me was knowing that I was a full half day ahead of my friends and family in Canada. When I was eating Christmas dinner my friends and family had yet to even wake up. While in Phukett I tried parasailing and elephant riding- they were at least 2 things I had not done before. The only thing I would complain about was the number of requests for massages, custom made suits and knock off merchandise. I ended up spending more money than I probably should have. . . but all in all it was a good trip.
Last weekend I took a quick two day jaunt over to Doha, Qatar. I prearranged it with my second cousin Jassim who made sure that his father was in town to show me around. Mater was great in showing me his birthplace and all of the changes that have taken place there in the last 20 years. I think if I had gone over there directly from North America, having never been in the middle east it would have been a huge culture shock for me. However, it really wasn't too much different than the UAE. I would say that the people were very friendly, and they held themselves slightly differently than the emiratis. The first thing I noticed were the cufflinks on the kandooras. In the UAE, the kandooras don't have cufflinks.
Anyway while I was there, the main things I saw were the corniche, the museum of islamic art, the souk, Mater's brother's restaurant, and the academic city that they'd recently built. In about 10 years they will be holding the World Cup there, so I have to imagine that the infrastructure of the city will change even more in that time.
So I think I've probably said enough for now to at least keep *some* people pacified. But I do want to say that it was great to see family, even if they are extended family that I don't know too well. Life is too short to forget about your family. Having been away from virtually all my family for 6 months now. . . I know that I cherish mine even more than I did before. Oh, and here are a few pictures for now.
Anyway, I will try to pick up where I left off. . . . .
Thailand was a blast... the second half of the trip was definitely more relaxing than the first. I found the beaches and everywhere to be a lot busier than the Philippines, but it was also high season so that was to be expected. I think the weirdest thing for me was knowing that I was a full half day ahead of my friends and family in Canada. When I was eating Christmas dinner my friends and family had yet to even wake up. While in Phukett I tried parasailing and elephant riding- they were at least 2 things I had not done before. The only thing I would complain about was the number of requests for massages, custom made suits and knock off merchandise. I ended up spending more money than I probably should have. . . but all in all it was a good trip.
Last weekend I took a quick two day jaunt over to Doha, Qatar. I prearranged it with my second cousin Jassim who made sure that his father was in town to show me around. Mater was great in showing me his birthplace and all of the changes that have taken place there in the last 20 years. I think if I had gone over there directly from North America, having never been in the middle east it would have been a huge culture shock for me. However, it really wasn't too much different than the UAE. I would say that the people were very friendly, and they held themselves slightly differently than the emiratis. The first thing I noticed were the cufflinks on the kandooras. In the UAE, the kandooras don't have cufflinks.
Anyway while I was there, the main things I saw were the corniche, the museum of islamic art, the souk, Mater's brother's restaurant, and the academic city that they'd recently built. In about 10 years they will be holding the World Cup there, so I have to imagine that the infrastructure of the city will change even more in that time.
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