Ramadan Kareem!

Greetings Folks,

The Holy Month of Ramadan has begun in Dubai and for Muslims all around the world.    For those of you who don’t know about Ramadan, let me enlighten you a bit.  The Holy Month falls on the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar.  It’s a time of reflection for Muslims all over the world, which there are approximately 1.6 to 2 billion on the planet, depending upon who you ask. 

During Ramadan, which lasts for 30 days, Muslims will fast from sunrise to sunset.  They will also refrain from negative behaviors such as cussing as well as focusing on understanding the plight of those less fortunate than themselves.

As you can imagine, this is a very spiritual time for the Muslim population.  Since I have been here, I’ve heard various stories about what Dubai is like during the month of Ramadan.  Now, in general, I strive not to break any laws or give the wrong impression while in Dubai.  Well, I guess that stands true at any time in my life.  But, I am extra vigilant here. LOL. 

Now, Ramadan has come and gone dozens of times throughout my life and I can’t say I ever remember it having any impact on my life.  Living in a Muslim country, changes all of that.  As you may or may not know, when the Muslims fast, they don’t even drink water.  So, for a non-Muslim to openly partake in food and drink during fasting hours is considered rude and even against the law.  Yup, I said against the law. 

Dubai is usually less conservative than other parts of the UAE and certainly other parts of the Middle East, but during Ramadan you can be fined for drinking in your car or otherwise out in public.  Other parts of the Middle East (like Pakistan) are known for sending people to jail for eating and drinking in public during Ramadan.  It is serious business for them. 

The cafeteria in our office building has its windows blocked out and it has reduced hours.  I feel like I’m going to a speakeasy when I go in there.  J For my non-American friends, a speakeasy is like a secret bar/club that existed during prohibition.  I feel sorry for the folks who work behind the counter because most are Muslim and they have to serve us while they refrain from eating and drinking. 

Most restaurants are closed during the day and you generally can only get served in hotels.  My hotel has a shop that serves take-away food 24 hours a day.  Even they have it blocked out so you can’t see the food when passing through the lobby. 

The one thing that comes to mind as I experience all of this is, I have MUCH respect for the Muslims in America who observe Ramadan faithfully.  You know in America we have fast food chains on every corner and you can smell the food of many restaurants all out in the street. 

People at work are NOT gonna hide their food from you and many may offer you a taste! SMH.  For the past couple of days (Ramadan started Sunday, which is a work day for us) I have been sneaking away to the break room to drink my coffee or even a cup of water.  When you go down to the covered cafeteria, it’s like an expat party up in there!  Everybody’s eating and drinking, but they finish up and wipe their mouths before leaving. SMH.  I carry my bag with me in case I have some contraband to take back to the office.  LOL. 

 Dancing, singing, chewing gum, wearing tight or revealing clothes and even engaging in an argument is frowned upon during Ramadan.  Many just leave the country during this time.  That is why it is so slow during this time, as well as it being hot as hell, but that’s a different post.  Holiday leave goes up dramatically for Ramadan.  Even I plan to take vacation for a week, but that wasn’t because of Ramadan. J

Now in the evening after the sun goes down, the Muslims can break their fast.  The meal is called ‘Iftar,’ which means  “to break the fast.”  A good time NOT to be on the road or crossing the street is when these folks are trying to get to an Iftar.  Dubai is already an accident-prone city, but the number of accidents goes up during Ramadan when people are rushing to break their fast (I swear there is a siren outside of my building right now…no lie).  Folks here already stay up late because it’s so damn hot during the day, but since they can’t eat and drink until after sunset, the meals go late into the night.

You hear a lot about the Iftars because the amount of food served is legendary and everyone is in such a good mood (food has that affect when you are hungry), but there is also something called the ‘Suhoor.’  This is the first meal of the day that occurs before the sun comes up.  After eating so much the night before, I can’t imagine getting up at 4am to eat again.  But, then again I don’t fast during the day for a month.

As you can imagine, prayer is also magnified during the Holy Month.  We all know Muslims pray five times a day facing Mecca.  Well, the prayers are extra long during Ramadan.  How do I know that?  Did I mention to you all that the hotel I stay in is adjacent to a mosque?  Al Rigga Mosque.  The mosque is so popular, that it is the only way people know where my hotel is, which just opened in April.  As soon as you inform the taxi driver that it is adjacent to Al Rigga Mosque they say, “Oh yes, I know this place.”

Listen, the calls to prayer are projected over a mega phone, like most mosque.  It is currently 11pm here and the prayers and singing just stopped.  It is a REALLY loud mega phone, but I have nothing against them getting their prayer on.  If it was Yolanda Adams I wouldn’t say word, so it is what it is.

After this fasting, restraint, prayer and charity goes on for 30 days, Eid al-Fitr signals the end of Ramadan.  I experienced this in Kenya once and it appears to be a big celebration.  Even though Kenya is a country that is almost 80% Christian, everybody comes out for Eid AND it’s a public holiday.  The Kenyans are ALWAYS down for a party.  That’s why I love them.  LOL.  I am looking forward to experiencing Eid here in Dubai.  It should be something to see.

One thing this experience is teaching me is that it’s good to be respectful of observances of other religions.  You may learn a little something in the process and understand people a little more.  I’ve always had a respect for Muslims and the Islamic religion because I’ve always had family members who are Muslims (let me holla at Patsy, Chenita and Rashidah).  I know a little more than I did back then, but the respect has always been there. 

During this Holy Month, it’s customary to greet people with ‘Ramadan Kareem,’ which means ‘Blessed Ramadan.’  My little cousin Rashidah (she is a grown woman with children, but still my little cousin) responds with the term ‘Ramadan Mubarak.’ Try it, as well as NOT chowing down in front of your Muslim friends during this time.  They will appreciate the gesture.

I will see y’all here next week.  I will be writing from Bali, Indonesia.  You know I can’t stay in one place long. ;-)

Ramadan Kareem everybody!

Della Rochelle

Copyright © 2014 by Della R. Williams

The Pick Up

Greetings Folks,

This week has been filled with old experiences with a new flavor.  There has been a flurry of activity that has kept me chuckling to myself for one reason or another.  For instance, taxis are a primary form of transportation for me in Dubai until I get my own car.  Those of you who followed my international assignment in Kenya know that I became quite accustomed to having a car and driver at my beck and call. 

I miss my daily exchanges with my former driver Brian (or Kinoti) who is truly an old soul who is wise beyond his years and has an opinion about everything.  Well, Dubai doesn’t require that level of care or security.  Companies are quite content with you getting a car of your own to dent and/or wreck at will.  Both gasoline and insurance are cheap here so employers are willing to take the risk.  There are plenty of nice cars driving around here all banged up. SMH. The more I watch the drivers on the road though, the more I think the driving here isn’t any worse than New York, so I’m good.

Anyway, I’m getting more and more accustomed to grabbing a taxi in the morning on the way to work and for the return trip in the evening.  The distance from my hotel apartment to the office is not far at all so it’s rare that I will have time to have in-depth conversations with the drivers, if at all. 

In the situations where I have had conversations, the discussions have been very basic.  

Most assume I am from Africa and are surprised when I say I’m from the States.  One driver even apologized for assuming I was from South Africa when I informed him of my nationality.  I told him that his assumption was not an insult to me.   I would be proud to be from just about any African country. 

Most of the taxi drivers have been from India or Bangladesh, but one day this week I had the privilege of meeting a taxi driver from Pakistan.   His name was Naeem (pronounced Nah-eem) and almost immediately I knew this was going to be a different ride.  As soon as I got in the car he asked, “Where can I take you beautiful lady.”  Now considering the fact that it is almost as hot as hell here, it takes a minute or two for me to remember my inviting personality. 

I quickly told him to take me to Deira City Center Mall and proceeded to look out of the window.  Now in the States, this would have been a sure sign that I didn’t want to be bothered.  When he continued the conversation by asking me, “So, where are you from pretty lady.”  I quickly looked up like, why is he still talking when I’m back here trying to cool down and remember my personality. 

Well, when I told him I was from the US, he quickly got excited and said, “Ah, you are an Obama girl!”  Now, I love my president, but I always find it interesting that people outside of the States assume all black people have to be for Obama.   You never know, I could have supported McCain or Romney.  LOL, okay even I couldn’t keep a straight face on that one.  But, in somebody else’s reality, that could have been the truth. 

Anywho, Naeem went on to tell me his views on race relations and why he thought that all people should be treated with respect.  For some reason hearing his monologue on race equality in his Pakistani accent made me smile.  Naeem must have taken my smile as a sign because he flipped the script and asked me if I was here with my family.  When I said no he asked me if I was married.  I told him that I didn’t think I could do something like this (work internationally) if I was married.  He then asked if I had a boyfriend.  I had been looking out of the window, but that question made me look at him. 

He had been looking at me through the rear view mirror.  I shook my head no and continued looking out of the window.  Naeem went on to say, “So what are your plans.”  I said, “Well I have a few things to pick up at the mall and I want to checkout the rest of the shops since its my first time here.”  He says, “No, no, no, I mean what are your plans for a boyfriend.” WTH!  I looked at him with confusion, not knowing exactly what the right response was. So I thought I would politely shut him down by saying, “Oh, I don’t have any plans for that.”

Naeem was not going to be deterred.  He began telling me how he was a nice guy looking for a nice girl.  He said he was a poor taxi driver, but he could make dinner for me or take me to the disco.  Disco?  Really?  I found myself staring at him with my mouth half open. He continued by saying, “I no want your money, just have a good time.” I just wanted to go to the mall and pick up a few things.  In the process I was being picked up by a Pakistani taxi driver.  SMH. 

Now Naeem wasn’t bad looking at all and he was a big guy (over 6’ and definitely 200 pounds) who clearly worked hard most of his life.   For a split second, the hood-rat in me thought, “you know it is kind of difficult to get taxis every now and then.” LOL. But the reformed Christian heathen in me said using him for taxi rides would not be the right thing to do. J The sane person in me said using this man in anyway would not be the ‘safe’ thing to do.   In Kenya, Master Pu ended every conversation about an African male with, “Don’t get chopped up.” Sure enough, his voice was in the back of my head.  LMAO!

Before I could say anything to Naeem he said, “You take number and think about it.  One weeks, two weeks, I still be free.” Right after that, because there is a God, we arrived at the mall.  He stopped the car and turned around and said, “You take number?” I had my shades on so he couldn’t see me glaring at him.  Since I wanted to get out of the car and he had the child locks on, I said sure. 

He went to hand me a pen and paper, but I said I will put it in my phone. 

He proceeded to spell his name and give me his number.  As he gave me the once over with his eyes that made the hair stand up on the back of my neck, I repeated his number back to him.  He said “uh hmm,” when I was done.  I paid him his money holding the furthest edge of the ten-dirham bill (arab dollar) I could without dropping it.  He said thank you and added, “You think about it,” shaking his head as I got out of the car.  SMH.

Needless to say, I didn’t call Naeem.  Then again, it hasn’t been one weeks, two weeks…he’s still free.  LOL.  Join me here next week folks so I can tell you about my first yoga class in Dubai and my first ride on the metro

Never a dull moment,

Della Rochelle

Copyright © Della R. Williams

Choices

Greetings Everyone,

This week was a little slow from a work perspective, but I got to meet some more interesting people.  This is a much more mature crowd I’m working with this time around.  The interesting thing they are validating for me is that you can still enjoy life in your 50’s and 60’s.  I’m learning a tremendous amount from them and having a great time doing it.

I’m still adjusting to the heat in this environment.  I can’t shake the fact that this is only getting started.  It’s just going to get hotter as the summer goes on.  It’s always interesting watching the people who are from this environment or who have been here a long time.  The other day when I came out of the hotel to get a taxi, I saw a man running in a full out sprint down the street. 

I quickly looked behind him to see who was chasing him with a gun, because that is the only reason I would be running in this heat.  Even then I may have to negotiate the situation.  LOL.  My mouth was hung open watching this man run down the street.  I couldn’t imagine what was so important that he felt the need to run in 103 degree weather where you break a sweat just thinking of asserting yourself. SMH.

I have got to find something else to do with my hair.  Even though I spend time in the morning curling and primping my hair, by the time I get to the office, there aren’t many curls left. The strange thing is I don’t spend much time outside.  I’m talking about the time it takes to get from the hotel to the taxi and from the taxi to the office. Unbelievable!

Yesterday there was a temporary freeze and the temperature only went to 97 degrees.  One of my  WTF! I’m telling you, you can barely breath standing still because it’s so humid.  I admire fit people until they do stuff like that. LOL.

colleagues actually went for a run.

I’ve been going back and forth about whether I will stay in my current housing because it is close to work, its brand new and it has a fabulous gym. But, it is far from everything so when people come to visit, it will be a challenge getting back and forth.  My apartment is also right next to a mosque and the call to prayer is killing me.  I am all for anyone getting their worship on, but last night I finally heard the one that comes in the middle of the night.  So, now I have to make a choice.  Where will I live? 

I thought briefly about living in an area called Jumeriah, but after seeing it for myself, I realized it is far too trendy and busy.  I’ve also been told that the Downtown and Business Bay areas are good places to live.  They are both close to the main highways, which will get me to work quickly while keeping me close to all of the conveniences and most importantly, STARBUCKS!

It has also become clear that I will have to drive myself in Dubai.  The traffic here is a little crazy, but I think it is along the lines of New York City.  What makes it worse are the traffic patterns.  They have some roads where when you sit at the red light, cars are coming directly at you.  When the light changes, you are using the same road where cars were coming towards you.  SMH.  It’s a little frightening the first time you see it.

I ventured to one of the malls this week (Deira City Center Mall).  The mistake I made was going to Friday.  What I learned is that Friday is the day everyone goes to the mosque and then afterwards they go out.  To my dismay, the Deira City Center Mall seemed to have been there destination.  There were so many people there that I couldn’t hear myself think.  I did, however, zero in on Starbucks.  It would be my first taste since I’ve been here.  It took my stress level down a notch. 

It was good to see familiar names in the mall like, Baskin Robbins, Hallmark, MAC, Gap, and Sephora, but I can’t wait to do some shopping of more traditional items.  All of the American products are far too expensive here.  I can shop for those at home. 

Well folks, I’ve completed another week in Dubai. I continue to adjust, but I’m committed.  Let’s see how things progress next week.  See you then.

Still Adjusting,

Della Rochelle
Copyright © 2014 by Della R. Williams

Adjusting to this Small World

Greetings,

Well folks, I have finished my first week in Dubai.  Most of my time was spent at work in a training session, but there was no shortage of noteworthy events.  First off, I have been in a hotel all week.  It is called the Millennium Airport Hotel.  

It is a nice enough place, but it happens to have a nightclub located above the rooms.  WTH! I didn’t complain about it on Friday because it was a weekend and people tend to party on the weekends, right?

Normally Saturday would have been another night where I thought, people party on the weekend, but here Sunday is a workday!  I actually had to call down to the front desk and complain about the noise.  The person on the line said, “Oh yeah that must be the club, I will tell them to turn it down.” WTH. Now is it me or did someone not think through putting a nightclub in the same area where business travellers sleep. SMH. 

My room faced the courtyard, which was beautiful and contained a bar, restaurant, pool, and a pool bar.  It also included a lounge that was positioned right under my window.  This was a prime spot for me to witness the all-night partying of locals and expats that goes on in Dubai.  It really is a playground.  Thursday night I witnessed a good ole fashion brawl.  LOL, yes, within a week’s time I have witnessed my first fight.

I heard the familiar, “hey, hey, hey,” that usually accompanies the breaking up of a fight.  LOL. By the time I got to the window, fists were flying and chairs were falling.  It made me feel a little nostalgic considering the fact that it was an actual fistfight and no gunshots were fired. Maybe that is only the case in the gun-obsessed USA. 

Clearly it was just the collision of too much to drink and a minor disagreement.  This was unusual to me, because the Emirati always seem so calm and reserved in their flowing white kanduras (traditional long robe worn by men).  I guess everyone has an equal opportunity to lose their temper and open up a can of whoop ass from time to time. J

I also had the good fortune of connecting with Master Pu this week.  Those of you who are new to my blogs, Master Pu is my long time mentor and former IBM manager who doesn’t allow me to use his real name.  He was in town for business and you know we had to make time to get together and cut up.  He mentioned that he wanted me to meet a woman who was also working in Dubai who could show me the ropes.  It just so happens that she worked for Emirates, which was the company that owned Mercator prior to the Warburg Pincus acquisition.   

Anywho, I thought that was a good idea considering that fact that I was just getting starting in Dubai.  I had been very surprised to find that I didn’t encounter any Americans working at the office when I arrived.  There are Brits, Indians, Sri Lankans, Pakistanis and Emirati as far as I’ve seen so far.  There is one woman who I wasn’t sure about.  She looked American, but I wasn’t positive.  I had been passing her all week saying hello without having a chance to properly introduce myself. 

Well, after scheduling dinner with Master Pu, I bumped into her and had the opportunity to introduce myself.  Come to find out, she was the woman Master Pu was talking about and she happened to be the godmother of one of his children.  WTH!  Talk about a small world!  We were both thrilled to finally know each other and amazed that we’ve known Mr. and Mrs. Pu (LOL that sounds so funny) for over 15 years.  Too funny, right?

Anyway, Master Pu and I decided to have dinner and drinks in the Jumeriah Beach area.  It’s a very trending area of Dubai where people go to be seen, party and shop.  There were people and fancy cars everywhere.  I had once dreamed about getting a Range Rover in the color Luxor and I actually saw my dream car outside the place where we had dinner.   Range Rovers, Porsche Cayenne’s and Lexus’s are a dime a dozen here and the driving is terrible.  SMH.

Getting Master Pu back to the airport after spending hours eating and drinking was an interesting experience.  Dubai, a lot like Kenya, doesn’t have good street addresses.  Also, when you are looking for a particular hotel like the Hilton, you have to know exactly which one and which part of town, because there are always multiples.  We didn’t realize that and ended up at the wrong JW Marriot.  The city is also growing so fast that cab drivers may not always know where a building is located because it is so new. 

Case in point, I moved out of the hotel and into a temporary serviced apartment.  It is in a brand new Hyatt Place in a part of town called Diera.  Not every cab driver knows where it is so getting into a cab where expecting to get home is hit or miss.  SMH.  The apartment is nice, but it’s too far away from the main attractions.  It still reminds me of hotel living and it won’t be conducive to having guests, which I expect many during my tenure.  It’s still interesting to me that no one wanted to come visit me in Kenya (except my girl Lara), but everyone wants to come to Dubai.

The heat hasn’t been that much of an issue so far.  I’ve been getting to work at 7:30am and a colleague of mine who is unbelievably kind, has been taking me back to the hotel.  There was only one day where I had to catch a cab back to the hotel.  It was hot as hell, but I had an umbrella and cabs are extremely accessible.  I am naturally a night owl, so this will work out perfectly for me.  The air conditioning works superbly so there is no danger of anyone getting hurt. LOL.

So, the verdict is, SO FAR SO GOOD.  I’m meeting very interesting people from around the world and I’m starting to understand the city a little better.  I’m still using a lot of my Americanism, but I’m getting better at stopping and asking people if they understand it. J  It makes me think of when Master Pu tried to explain ‘bootleg ‘ to the team in Kenya.  Hilarious!  

I’ve learned to stay out of the heat and the good thing is, I’m not the only one.  Now that I’m in temporary housing, I can take my time and find the right part of town to live in permanently.  I’m still not feeling the idea of driving here, but everyone says I will have to.  SMH.  I will cross that bridge when I get to it.  All in all, I’m adjusting well.  Check in again next week.

Adjusting well,

Della Rochelle

Copyright © 2014 by Della R. Williams

Finally the Journey Begins

 

1st Day of Work

Greetings All,

I’m so excited about starting this blog and embarking on another international adventure.  For those of you who don’t know, I have accepted a one-year assignment with Mercator (formerly a division of Emirates Airlines).  Initially I was concerned about accepting an assignment in Dubai because those of you who know me know I cannot be in the sun.  Seriously!  And, its not just because I don’t like the heat (I HATE to sweat) or that I don’t need a tan. 

I am allergic to the sun.  Honest to God truth.  If I stay in the direct sunlight, these nasty little bumps multiply and it’s not a pretty sight.  There are areas on my body, like my hands, where the bumps permanently reside.  SMH.  My mother tried to keep my out of the sun when I was little, but I was a child.  As an adult, I have mastered the art of staying out of the sun!

But anywho, I was delayed in my arrival to Dubai because of a pesky little thyroid problem.  I had no idea I had a problem with my thyroid until it threw my heart into Atrial fibrillation.  That certainly caught my attention and the timing couldn’t have been better (or should I say worse).  It was right before I was scheduled to leave for Dubai. 

I ended up going to the emergency room and I was quite annoyed by the inconvenience.  The last thing in the world I wanted to do was go to the emergency room and wait for a million hours for them to give me a pill and let me go.  Almost immediately after I arrived, I realized that was not going to be the case.  After a quick EKG, I was informed that I was going to be admitted into the hospital.  WTH!  I immediately let them know that I needed to get on a plane to Dubai.  No one was amused. 

I ended up being in the hospital for four days!  It took three days for my heart to come out of Afib and another day for the doctors to feel comfortable that I was really out.  SMH.  As I was departing the hospital, I had to ask the doctors when they thought I could schedule my trip.  None of the residents could look me in the eye and give me a straight answer.  Finally the attending came in and told me it would be at least a month before they could give me the okay to start my journey. AAAHHHH!!!  Now I was not amused. 

I had follow up appointments with the Cardiologist, Endocrinologist and the Ophthalmologist.  Whew!  Of course medicine came with two of the three visits.  I made sure I had enough to hold me over until my next trip home in August.  Two days before my scheduled departure, I got the final okay from the Cardiologist to take the trip.  Ha! 

The funny thing is, when I got on the plane and it was ready to take off, a voice in the back of my head said, “Are you sure this is a good idea?” Shut Up!!  Well, I made it to Dubai safely and with minimal discomfort.   I was completely exhausted when I got here, so I slept almost all of Saturday.  My body was very grateful. 

The most ironic thing about this hyperthyroid condition I have is the fact that, it speeds up everything in the body (they consider the thyroid the motor of the body). In addition to speeding your heart up to dangerous levels and increasing the possibility of throwing a blood clot, I suffer from heat intolerance! LOL. It is so not funny though.  When the plane was landing in Dubai at 10:45PM, the temperature was 96 degrees.  WTH! 

As I experienced my first Sunday workday (the work week is Sunday through Thursday), the temperature reached a mild 102 degrees.  WhooHoo!  This promises to be an interesting experience.  The one thing that I find refreshing is that the people here don’t pretend like it’s not hot.  You know how the in the US, those who live in the south act like the people from up north just can’t deal with the heat?  Well, the people I’ve met in Dubai go to work at the crack of dawn to avoid the heat, some carry umbrellas and they quickly inform you that the short walk YOU THINK won’t be a problem is unwise. LOL

I hope you all take this journey with me through the Middle East.  I will tell you later why it looks like I will be going to other countries (safe ones) in the Middle East.  Although I am late with this week’s entry, I intend to post on Saturdays.  Dubai is 8 hours ahead of the east coast, so I should be able to keep the commitment.  On that note, I will see you all next week.  Stay cool. J

Always Curious,

Della Rochelle

Copyright © 2014 by Della R. Williams