I live in the Middle East - Ask me something!

[clyrc]

I live in this amazing, multi-cultural country which is loads of fun and educational as well. I'm also hiding out from my in-laws, who are staying for a month (gulp.) So be kind and ask thoughtful questions!

[tjwmason]

1. How is the succession going?

I've heard very good things about the U.A.E., it's marvellous to have them confirmed by a person who is actually there.

[clyrc]

2. As far as I know it's going well

The UAE is far from perfect, but it's fun to live here most of the time

[AllegroRondo]

3. Is it difficult to get good beer?

I've heard that alcohol is difficult to buy.

[Squatch]

4. Maybe...but they have some damn fine snow skiing in Dubai

Or so I've heard.

[Shell Beau]

5. What part do you live in?

:)

[clyrc]

7. Lovely lovely Sharjah!

The poor but cultured cousin of ritzy Dubai.

[clyrc]

6. Not difficult to get beer

Just go to Ajman to the "Hole in the Wall," owned, you understand, by the Sheik of Ajman, and get the stuff unlicensed. I did have a friend who was caught by the police as they were leaving---but the police asked for a beer a piece and then let them go.

The skiing looks fun, but I've never done it!

[driver8]

15. I have been to Dubai -- we drank beers at the Sheraton Hotel bar with

a bunch of stewardesses!!

Quite expensive, as I recall.

[clyrc]

17. I forgot to add that you can get beer in hotel restaurants

In Dubai and Ajman. Not where I live, though. But I don't drink much so it isn't a problem. I have my cooking wine and that's enough for me.

[shugah]

8. how did you come to live there?

were you born there, or did you move there? if you moved there, what was behind your decision?

[clyrc]

9. My husband got a job here

We're American, and in 2001 he ran for state office in Florida and lost. He then had a bit of a breakdown, quit his teaching job, and sent out resumes so he could get out of Florida. I always wanted to live somewhere exotic, but the thought of living in the Middle East scared me. Then I read websites about Dubai, and it looked interesting. The pay is good and the benefits are great, so over we came and life has been strange and mostly entertaining ever since.

[shugah]

10. 'strange and mostly entertaining'

sounds like a good experience!

is your stay to be temporary or permanent? do you have children?

i could come up with numerous questions - i love to hear about different cultures!

is there an american/western community that you live in/with, or have you just been immersed in the local culture?

[clyrc]

11. We've been here 2 and a half years

We plan on it being permanent, but you never know here. Although my husband is now working with the President of the country's son--- which bodes well for our staying here a while.

I didn't make it clear that my husband teaches English at the American University Of Sharjah. We live on campus, with people from all over the world. On our block, we have people from India, Sri Lanka, Syria, Burma, Argentina, Canada, Egypt, and New Zealand.

It is really hard to get to know Emiratis, because they are only about 15 percent of the population. The rest are expats. I think Pakistanis make up the majority of the Emirates I live in, and we have very close Pakistani friends. Most Westerners don't mix with Pakistanis, so we are a bit of a novelty with the Pakistanis. We wear lots of Pakistani clothes, because they are beautiful and I'm a big woman
and they are comfortable.

We have two daughters, who go to school mainly with Arabs and Pakistanis. We sent them to a mostly British school for two years, but the little Brits teased my geeky oldest so much we had to change schools. She gets along so much better at the new school, where, once again, she is a novelty "blondie"
who people don't know quite what to make of.

[shugah]

12. i agree about the comfort and beauty of the clothes!

i incorporated indian/pakistani punjabi dress/suits into my wardrobe several years ago. the fabrics and embroidery and beadwork are so pretty! and it cannot be beat for comfort, particularly in the heat.

how's the climate?

[clyrc]

14. um, well, it's gorgeous now, in the 70s

but May-November is horribly, horribly hot. Especially July-September, 115-130 hot. I don't like that much.

[shugah]

22. not much different than florida then

;-)

[Whoa_Nelly]

13. What do people on the street there

really say about BushCo?

[clyrc]

16. Of course they don't like him!

They adore Clinton, though. He's been here at lest five times since I got here, that I know of.

It astonishes me how much people here know about American politics. Last year the checker in the gorcery store, a man who couldn't have been much older than 18 and didn't speak English all that well told me Jimmy Carter was the best American president. Now that surprised me!

When I tell people that I love America but can't stand Bush, people respect that.

[Whoa_Nelly]

18. So good to hear all that!

Thanks!
:woohoo:

[clyrc]

20. It's nice to live it, too!

I was scared when I first got here that the people wouldn't like me because I'm American, but I haven't found that to be the case. The people here mostly admire America! They clearly make the distinction between the American Administration and ordinary Americans.

[jonnyblitz]

19. My navy ship used to pull into Dubai when I was stationed in

Manama, Bahrain on the USS LaSalle(which is now decomissioned) Anyways I remember UAE quite well. I liked it much much better than Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman.

[clyrc]

21. I can understand that!

It's a Muslim country, but not so strict. Especially not Dubai.

[SkipNewarkDE]

23. Ok, Kayf halak?