Sweet Green Mango

My new fruit for this week was Sweet Green Mango. Lulu's had a special display of Thai fruits, so I decided to try some mango. Now, I love mango juice, smoothies with mango, mango flavored candy, even mango salsa. I've had fresh mango before with chilli pepper on it and didn't like it, but I figured I'd try it again. Well, I still don't like it. To me, fresh mango tastes like spoiled melons. I can't eat melons and I don't like spoiled food, so for me, fresh mangos are a no-go.

One bite and I knew mangos are just not for me.

Art Night!

My roommate, who is an art teacher at my school, had a great idea to host a Girls' Art Night! Check out our work! Just assume the piece you think is best is mine.

Of course you need a little wine, cheese, and bruschetta for a Girls' Art Night.

Try to guess which is mine!

My roommate's piece. So talented.

How to Go to the Ballet in Abu Dhabi

How to Go to the Ballet in Abu Dhabi

by Shannon D. Holmes

Spend 200AED (about $55) on a ticket to the Russian Ballet

Spend 2.5 hours deciding what to wear and getting dressed

Call for a cab, providing directions such as "I live near Cuba Cafe, behind Khalidiya Mall, in Al Rasul Baha, near the Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank"

Wait 10 minutes for the standard text message confirmation for the cab

Call back to see if a cab is coming 

Stay on hold for another 5 minutes to find out "there's not one in your area, so no."

Walk to find a cab, while wondering if your backless dress is inappropriate and will attract disapproving stares from the men entering your neighborhood mosque

Do not cover your backless dress because it's too hot

Get a cab and realize it's the one you called for in the first place

Do not tell the cab driver this so you won't have to pay the 6AED booking fee

Arrive at Emirates Palace, open-mouthed and wide-eyed at the grand opulence including: marble valet driveways, Bentleys and Lamborghinis parked on the marble driveway, workers who mop the marble driveway after the Bentleys and Lamborghinis drive away

Stop taking pictures and hurry inside because it's too hot 

Enjoy a Bellini and share delightful cheese platters with friends while waiting for your tickets from Will Call

Realize the show is starting soon and you still don't have your tickets

Receive a text message from your co-worker at Will Call informing you that "there are no tickets"

Ask "why the flip not?!"

Receive another text message explaining "the Sheik (King/Sultan) bought them all"

Realize how shocked you are NOT

Vow with your co-workers that the Sheik's son, who attends your school, will not learn his long-vowels until you receive a full refund

Pay another 200AED for the Bellini and cheese that suddenly isn't so delightful anymore

Ask the jazz band in the lobby if they can play "The Electric Slide" so you and your friends can do a flash mob in protest of this ridiculousness

Find out they, of course, do not know the Electric Slide and dance to a Celia Cruz song instead

Go to the bathroom just to check it out because the bathrooms in Abu Dhabi are always over-the-top

Realize how jaded you have become because you are not impressed with the Emirates Palace bathroom

Upon leaving, hear that you can go into the ballet now, but you won't be able to sit together

Oh yea, and if some people go and others do not, no one will receive a refund

Leave the ballet

Important Note - You must do all of the aforementioned with a smile on your face, because such is the life in Abu Dhabi and a frown doesn't change anything anyways


Take the virtual tour of Emirates Palace!!! http://www.emiratespalace.com/shared/vrtour/vtour.html

New Shoes!

I told myself that I wasn't going to do any shopping until at least November. But when I saw these shoes in a nearby corner store and for only 45AED (about $12.50), I just couldn't resist! And the best thing is, they are comfortable! I even wore them all day teaching today. I'd say this was a good buy.

Holland Lettuce Boston

I went to the grocery store with "spinach" on my list. Unfortunately, all the inexpensive spinach was gone by the time I got there and I refuse to spend 24AED ($7) on a bag of spinach! I was going to just go without my daily dosage of greens this week, when it hit me that this was a chance to try something new. I decided to go with a head of "Holland Lettuce Boston", as the sticker says. You might be thinking, "It's just lettuce. It'll taste like all the other lettuce you've had." Well, you'd be wrong. This lettuce actually tastes much more crisp and flavorful! It adds a little kick to my turkey and Arabic bread sandwiches. So, the next time you're in Holland or Boston or Abu Dhabi, try some of this lovely lettuce!

Making this Home

I had another full weekend. Thursday evening after work, my school hosted a happy hour at a nearby bar called Cooper's. After staying there for a few hours getting to know some more of my co-workers, I then went and spent some time hanging out at a neighbor/co-worker's place.

Friday morning I went to church, then to an Abu Dhabi "Outdoors Exhibit" with a couple of friends, where I met a few falcons and tried archery for the first time. I later went to a more "westernized" grocery store called Spinney's hoping to find my favorite yogurt (Dannon Light N' Fit) but that was a bust. Afterwards, I had a great all-you-can-eat vegetarian Indian dinner and perused a few textile stores looking for a pattern/cloth for a new dress. I also bought some great shoes for only 45AED (that's about $12.50)! I came home with the plan to go straight to bed, but ended up doing laundry and cleaning until about 1:30am.

Falcons! I think they wear hats so they don't get startled.

Gotta love Obama!

Look Mom! I can shoot a bow and arrow!

You can find relaxers here, but no Dannon Light N' Fit yogurt?!

This is how you eat samosa!

Today, Saturday, I grocery shopped, walked through the blazing desert heat to a charity flee market, went into school to get some work done, walked around my neighborhood for about an hour looking for a good beauty supply, and bought what I thought would be an Egyptian pizza but turned out to be something else that was almost as delicious. Now, I am blogging, grading papers, Facebooking, and getting ready to start another week of teaching.

 

 

The workers must've taken a break for afternoon prayer at my neighborhood mosque.

As I was searching for a beauty supply, I saw a few neighborhood boys playing soccer in an alley. Love it!

Of everything that I did this weekend, I think my favorite moment was laundry and cleaning. There's something about scrubbing your tub and folding your clothes on the sofa that makes a place feel like home...seriously! I wouldn't necessarily clean and laundry on vacation, but it is something that I do everywhere I live. And since I LIVE HERE, house chores must be done and that makes me happy :-)

Desiderata

Desiderata is Latin for desired things. I found a copy of Max Ehrmann's poem in the pile of "important documents" that I brought with me to Abu Dhabi. As I recall, every year Ms. Shadrick, one of the English teachers at my high school, would give a copy of this poem to graduating seniors. If these were Ehrmann's desired things, what are yours? What are mine?...
Read the text and you'll see why I am glad I kept my copy of Desiderata and brought it with me to Abu Dhabi.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gently with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive of him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.

With all its shame, and drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

               Be careful. Strive to be happy.

Follow Your Instincts...Sometimes

Yes, I had a busy weekend. Church on Friday morning (Friday is the holy day here), sand golfing Friday afternoon, dancing Friday night, and visiting Meena Market on Saturday. Of all that I did, I think Friday's trip to a dance club on Yas Island was the biggest adventure.
First, my co-workers and I decide to go to Yas Island (about a 30 minute ride from downtown Abu Dhabi) after we've just spent hours drinking and golfing in the hot, desert sun. We pre-game until about 11:45pm, at which point my instincts tell me to throw in the towel and take my tail to bed! But, I follow along and hop into 1 of 3 cabs for the treck to Yas Island, to a club at a relatively unknown location. After falling asleep in the cab, we arrive to Yas Island, a ghost town of over-the-top hotels and Ikea. Before entering the hotel, we realize we are not at the correct location. We must get back into 3 more cabs and go to Yas Island Hotel and ask the concierge where Allure night club is. He says it's at the hotel, but we need to take a cab. "Why take a cab to a club that's inside your hotel?!" we ask. Well, the hotel is so big, it's too far to walk to the club. Another 3 cabs later, we arrive. By this time, I'm thinking "I should've followed my instincts and stayed my tail at home!"
But then, I stopped and thought "What else would I be doing? Sleeping?! After all this trouble, I'm gonna have a darn good time!" Which I did! After asking the DJ to play some "...you know, top 40, Hip-Hop and R&B" my co-workers and I danced the night away in a beautiful club, in a beautiful hotel. Listen below to the plethora of music selections we enjoyed. Some are quite, ummmm, unexpected?

Big Yellow Taxi

      My co-worker and I decided we would visit one of the "real" souks/markets here in Abu Dhabi. As I posted some time ago, I visited the new Central Market Souk with its modern architecture, air conditioned corridors, and high-end tourist shops. I was looking forward to going to an authentic market with local, fresh produce and original crafts. Hah! I should've known better. We arrived and to my dismay all the vendors sold, I suppose, the same produce that's sent to the chain supermarkets here. Every vendor sold the same items and brands with not so low prices.
     While the vision of Abu Dhabi as a cosmopolitan city is enticing to tourists and expats like myself, and provides many new economic opportunities for the local people, there is something to be said about preserving the city's rich culture and history beyond museums and historical sites. Unfortunately, I am sure as I continue to work and/or travel abroad I will have similar experiences in all four corners of the world.

Where the trucks come to drop off the food for the "local market."

Meena Market

Fresh dates! I'm not a huge fan of dates. They're pretty popular here, so I'm trying to acquire a taste for them.

Standard souvenir.

I did enjoy the spice store at the new souk. I need to Google some recipes so I can figure out how to use them.

Golfing in the Desert

Yes, you read correctly. People golf in the desert here! You might think it's pretty difficult to golf in the sand, but they've figured it out. Simply mix some sort of oil with the sand to make it smoother and carry around a patch of fake grass, and there you have it; sand golfing!!! Although this was my first time golfing (EVER) I was a pro...if 'pro' means making contact 90% of time and hitting the ball 1-3 feet in distance ;-)

See how smooth the sand is?!

The "browns" (not the greens)

Notice my terrible form. My left arm should not be bent, but my knees should. Oh well, I'll try harder next time.

Dragon Fruit!

One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.

In an effort to continue trying new things and expanding my horizons, I've decided that every week when I do my major grocery shopping, I will purchase a new food item.

This week, we have Dragon Fruit, a.k.a. Pitaya. I, of course, had to Google preparation methods, but basically you cut into the skin and peel the rest off. Then, chop it up and enjoy! According to Google, it's high in fiber, but low in calories, so it's a healthy snack and that's always good. Dragon Fruit has the consistency of a kiwi and is often called a "custard fruit." It tastes like, well, nothing much :-/ Not nasty, but just like water with a hint of...ummmm...dragon fruit?! Pick one up from your local grocery store one day!

My Apartment!

I've finally "finished" decorating my room enough to post some pictures of my place! It feels nice to have the place decorated a little more; it's beginning to feel like a home. Of course I'll keep decorating as time goes on. For now, enjoy the pictures!

View of my street from the front door

The kitchen (obviously)

Living Room (still a little more decorating to do here)

Dining Room (again, needs more decorating)

Look! There's a bidet (you know, the thing from B.A.P.S.!) 

 

 

My neighbor helped me paint my room. Don't you just love the color?! Of course the picture frames will look better once there are some actual pictures in them :-)

Bedroom again.

The view from my bedroom window.

Another view from my bedroom, but looking to the left.

Central Market

This morning, I met up with a new friend for breakfast at a restaurant called "Shakespeare & Co" in Central Market http://www.shakespeareandco.ae/restaurant.php#. I have found a new haven in this restaurant's exquisitely beautiful European decor. As I enjoyed the "Soujak & Cheese" (spicy beef sausage and halloumi cheese in Lebanese flatbread), I almost forgot I was in Abu Dhabi...not that I am trying to though.

After tea, I walked around Central Market Souk. In an effort to modernize, the souk is now a very contemporary space, fully air conditioned (not a bad thing at all) with various high end, yet "traditional" shops. The corridors are dark to resemble older souks' dark alleys. It was rather empty though because many people are away for the Eid holiday.

After walking around the souk for a while, I ventured outside...and it was an adventure! I could only get in about 10 minutes of touristy picture-taking before I was burning in the high-noon heat. As things cool down, I'll have to go back to this park to find out the history behind these statues.