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Subject: Moving to the other side of the Planet. Posted by: nerveclinic - [10526140] Tue, Sep 26, 2006, 00:23 Moving to the other side of the Planet. This time next week I will be landing in my new home in Dubai UAE. When I first started hearing about my new job offer I was concerned about the location, I knew very little about Dubai. The more I've learned the more excited and confident I've become. Dubai is the fastest growing city in the world. The worlds tallest skyscraper is being built there. There are man made islands being built in the ocean, one in the shape of a giant palm tree, one in the shape of the world. They built an indoor ski/snow-board mountain The country is 20% Arab but 80% Ex Pats. The main language spoken is English. So we take a chance... Chance looks pretty good right now. Nerve | |||||||
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| 118 | sarge33rd ID: 76442923 Sun, Dec 10, 2006, 13:47 |
Sure folks... Lets all go to a foreign country, insist that the retail clerks speak to us in our native language, not theirs, insist that they comply with US standards/norms of kissing customers asses question them, when their English isnt upto our own standards, could we possibly do anything at all, which would more clearly illustrate the foreign held conception of Americans as conceited bastards????? | ||||||
| 119 | Perm Dude ID: 3811561012 Sun, Dec 10, 2006, 13:56 | Yes. We could have an exchange which contained actual conceit. | ||||||
| 120 | Perm Dude ID: 3811561012 Sun, Dec 10, 2006, 13:58 |
Reminds me of a lunch I had with my wife in New York. We saw New England Clam Chowder on the menu, and I ordered a bowl. When the soup came, it was Manhattan Clam Chowder instead. When I pointed out that the menu said "New England Clam Chowder" the waiter said "Yes sit. Manhattan New England Clam Chowder." I guess I was conceited to bring it up at all.... | ||||||
| 121 | sarge33rd ID: 76442923 Sun, Dec 10, 2006, 14:30 |
The difference, shouldnt need to be pointed out but apparently it does, is that you were in the US. How odd, that one would anticipate US customs to be followed in NYC. Customer asks for something out of the ordinary. (Apparently thats the case here, whether it would be considered so in Seattle is hardly appropriate. It was out of the ordinary n Dubai.) Retail rep politely agrees with the customer repeatedly, but indicates that he cant comply with the customers wishes. Customer persists. Retail rep repeats their inability to comply. Customer persists. Retail rep checks with a co-worker and is told that they cannot comply. Relates this to the customer. Customer persists. News flash: The customer is WRONG in this scenario. | ||||||
| 122 | Punk42AE Donor ID: 036635522 Sun, Dec 10, 2006, 14:38 | No matter how much you think you were right in badgering the person in the starbucks to get your way, you're what we call the good ole american A-hole that comes into a convenience type setting and tells the person behind the counter over and over again "but the boss lets me do that." My assumption would be you've never had to deal with customers like that, but I guess you never know. I can fully understand how they were only supposed to use it in their "holiday drink" with them saying they didn't know when they could reorder it. I don't see how that wasn't a valid excuse on it. | ||||||
| 123 | nerveclinic ID: 4611301014 Sun, Dec 10, 2006, 15:32 |
Boxman: That has nothing to do with anything. You are in Dubai. If the manager (or Starbucks Corporate) has even one brain cell, they run the store to cater to the customers in their region. So they cater to the customer in their region by agreeing to put any syrup they want in their espresso except tofee? Explain. I swear to God I wrote this before I saw MITH say the exact same thing... Clearly, from this except, nerveclinic believes that because the AMERICAN Starbucks list the lite drinks seperately that it must be so everywhere in the world. This is a classic example of an "ugly American" and I dare you to refute that. Ok I refute that. I can fully understand how they were only supposed to use it in their "holiday drink" with them saying they didn't know when they could reorder it. I don't see how that wasn't a valid excuse on it. Well THAT might have been a valid excuse, except they didn't say that. Where did I say they did? The funny thing is, this is what goes on every day here. This was not an isolated incident. This is just how you are constantly entertained in stores here. I posted this thinking forum members would get a kick out of it. when I spoke to the team members I was polite, soft spoken, smiled, never rude. I just find some of the exchanges amusing and can't help but tweak them since I feel they are tweaking me first. It never occurred to me I would be labeled an "Ugly American" since for the most part I treat everyone I meet here, down to the lowest workers on the totem pole with complete respect while they are treated like sh*t by many others. You just never know what will set some people of here I guess. | ||||||
| 124 | nerveclinic ID: 4611301014 Sun, Dec 10, 2006, 15:45 |
I feel like after all this I owe Dubai some respect. I am going home for Christmas in less then 2 weeks. I'm really excited to be headed back to the USA. I am also really excited I am coming back here. I thought for a while that I might not want to come back. Now I am really hoping things work out here because I am generally having a good time. There's a vibrant night life here. People are generally friendly. The weather right now is incredible, 70's during the day 60's at night. I'm walking around tonight (midnight) in a shirt, no jacket. There's a certain easy way of life that doesn't exist in any "big city" in the states I've encountered. There's no real crime to speak of, no fear walking down any street in town. Beautiful beaches, and have I mentioned before, more beautiful women from all nationalities then I have ever seen in one place in my life. It's really refreshing meeting women/men who grew up in India, Africa, China, Pakistan. Frankly also getting a new perspective on how fortunate we all were to grow up where we did. Some of the stuff I post is just the differences between here and the USA that I think will be amusing. No one wants me to write dry reports about how wonderful it is here do they? But it's pretty cool in a lot of ways. I am in no hurry to leave. I can see spending several years here if things work out, and it seems to get better every day. So there props to Dubai. There's plenty to joke about, but some of you would be mighty envious of the way of life here that you probably can't really imagine. I couldn't even imagine it even after I was here a few weeks. You just have to get into the Dubai groove. | ||||||
| 125 | Punk42AE Donor ID: 036635522 Sun, Dec 10, 2006, 15:46 |
STM: Sir the toffee isn’t in the computer, only a few days old so no way to order it. Unless you are saying they didn't know how to put it in the computer to ring it up, when I read it I took it as them saying they couldn't order more of it. | ||||||
| 126 | nerveclinic ID: 4611301014 Sun, Dec 10, 2006, 15:52 |
STM: Sir the toffee isn’t in the computer, only a few days old so no way to order it. Unless you are saying they didn't know how to put it in the computer to ring it up, when I read it I took it as them saying they couldn't order more of it. It's your second explanation. Since there wasn't a button on the computer that could ring up the toffee like the other 30 syrups they could ring up on the computer, she simply decided instead I couldn't have it. Honestly guys, it's all in fun. No team members were yelled at. I smiled the whole time. I didn't threaten to write to corporate. I didn't tell anyone they were stupid. I said don't worry about it just give me two plain shots (My normal drink). Honest | ||||||
| 127 | nerveclinic ID: 4611301014 Sun, Dec 10, 2006, 16:02 |
Here's props to the locals. I took a shot at getting home internet today. You can't get it until you have full residency and because of some complications I am not there yet. I brought lots of paperwork showing that we were working on it, copies of passport, visa, apartment lease company letter etc. I sat down with a local UAE bureaucrat (the internet is government and this is one of the only jobs they work at). I was offered internet if I put down a $1,300.00 deposit. I passed. (The internet cafe is about $1.50 an hour) The local, who knew I was an American from my passport was polite. He apologized. He explained the rules and the reasons for it in great detail (foreigners ripping off the phone company in the past). He was genuinely and sincerely sympathetic to my case and rather then being purely bureaucratic went out of his way to be polite, respectful and sympathetic to me. Not the first time this has happened so maybe some over due props from me to the local UAE citizens. | ||||||
| 128 | Punk42AE Donor ID: 036635522 Sun, Dec 10, 2006, 16:05 | And to think people bitch when they have to put down $100 on a cell phone to get it set up ;'P | ||||||
| 129 | nerveclinic ID: 4611301014 Sun, Dec 10, 2006, 16:52 |
Bili How ya' gonna find the raves!?!? Raves you ask? And trust me this is just a few of the clubs last week Welcome to the Conservative Middle East. | ||||||
| 130 | Boxman ID: 211139621 Sun, Dec 10, 2006, 17:10 |
So they cater to the customer in their region by agreeing to put any syrup they want in their espresso except tofee? Explain. Because it is entirely possible that toffee is not popular unless if it's part of the Holiday Drink. I would imagine that if toffee was indeed popular, they'd offer it. If they had a ton of people asking for it, it only makes sense for them to offer it. Otherwise, that's a stupid business decision on their part. Considering that it's ONLY available in the Holiday Drink, that implies to me they have limited quantity on hand and have only so much of it to cover what they expect to sell of the Holiday Drinks. (Sarge covered this specific point earlier, but since you asked me I thought I'd throw my 2 cents in.) I'm sure you are a generally polite and well mannered person, especially when you're out of your comfort zone a tad. Yet just try and be open minded that you are in a foreign country and that perhaps how you appear to others reflects on all of us. :) | ||||||
| 131 | sarge33rd ID: 76442923 Sun, Dec 10, 2006, 18:05 |
FTR, at no time did I say or imply that NS was necessarily "rude". Only, that by persisting after having been told the option he wanted wasnt available, he fed into the stereo-typical view of Americans. As I understand it, Nerve has a fairly lengthy background in retail, so I rather doubt that he would be overtly rude to the retail floor worker. I still hold however, that by persisting after having been told no, it reinforces the negative view on Americans in general. As to why the clerk may not have said that the mix is available strictly, solely and ONLY for the special holiday drink; (assuming such is the case) 1) They did. They said the terminal isnt programmed to allow the adding of the Toffee mix to anything but that one drink. 2) Further explanations of company inventory policy, isnt generally owed to the consumer here in the US either. Why would it be overseas? And finally, re the "lite" order: As I understand it, XXX-Lite, is a predominantly American "thing". I dont recall in my 7 years in Europe, ever seeing a Pilsner Lite, or a Heineken Lite, or Jagermeister Lite. | ||||||
| 132 | Perm Dude ID: 3811561012 Sun, Dec 10, 2006, 18:23 | And yet they insisted it was "Lite." | ||||||
| 133 | sarge33rd ID: 76442923 Sun, Dec 10, 2006, 18:56 |
No, they repeatedly agreed with the customer. Whatever NC said, they said, "Right". Not exactly atypical of a foreign speaker of English, working in a customer service environment now, is it????? C'mon Fred. You're smarter than this. | ||||||
| 136 | bibA Leader ID: 261028117 Sun, Dec 10, 2006, 22:57 | My interpretation of events was that possibly the salesperson believed that all of their products were "lite", and that he may not have been aware of the caloric differences that we in the US take for granted with our products. | ||||||
| 137 | Perm Dude ID: 3811561012 Mon, Dec 11, 2006, 00:04 |
sarge, you seem to be missing nerve's point. Maybe your efforts to portray the whole thing to match your own bias about the rights and wrongs of customer service, perhaps. It is poor customer service. I don't believe that nerve raised much of a stink about it--I thought it was amusing, and you'll note I didn't jump in until people started taking nerve to task for not being sensitive to the cultural differences in which he should simply excuse the service as being part and parcel of his culture. | ||||||
| 138 | nerveclinic ID: 201039265 Sun, Dec 17, 2006, 10:47 |
I need this like a hole in the head... link The United States warned the United Arab Emirates on Thursday it may take action against the Gulf state if it fails to halt the flow of technology to Iran and Syria that can be used to make improvised bombs. "We continue to discuss this issue with UAE authorities but time for action is running short," Chris Padilla, assistant secretary of commerce for export administration, said in a speech to an industry group. | ||||||
| 139 | katietx ID: 3810431417 Sun, Dec 17, 2006, 12:28 | Geez...just when you thought rude retail help was a big problem. Be safe nerve! | ||||||
| 140 | biliruben ID: 52014814 Tue, Jan 23, 2007, 15:39 |
I stumbled across this piece on present and future development of Dubai. Unfortunately it's in German, and my Deutsch is sehr rusty. Cool pics, though:  
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| 141 | boikin ID: 59831214 Tue, Jan 23, 2007, 16:05 | Article today in USAtoday about Dubai and tourism | ||||||
| 142 | nerveclinic ID: 27051103 Wed, Jan 24, 2007, 02:53 |
Yeah that article will pretty much give you an idea of the progress. They don't stress how bad the traffic is enough though, and it leaves out the huge parts of Dubai that are still second world. It's still a relatively "small" city. I was struck when I went back home for Christmas how much bigger and denser Atlanta is then Dubai. The night clubs are world class and full of eye candy and a really, really sexy energy that I've never experienced in the States, but then I didn't go to the commercial clubs in the States and all the clubs here are commercial. My current favorite club is Zinc. The cabin crew for Emirates airline gets all drinks at half price. (All Emirates airline cabin crew live in Dubai, all 3,500 of them and they are 90% female) Let's just say cabin crews in this part of the world are a bit different then the USA. They don't bother with the politically correct laws about allowing the crew to age and gain weight. It's a very young, good looking, international cabin crew thus a pretty nice looking night club. Nerve | ||||||
| 143 | nerveclinic ID: 12032610 Fri, Jan 26, 2007, 11:10 |
The latest controvesy in Dubai. Ex Pat Construction workers who make about $500.00 a month tops, have been accused in a local paper of eating stray cats. Here are some "letter to the editor" reactions to the story. I think the letters explain more then I could... (I think this first guy is just having a bit of fun with the story) Further to today’s front page article, I request that Dubai retains a little perspective on this matter. Cats are lazy, dirty animals that offer very little to humanity at the best of times, and the strays that are being eaten are a menace to society and no better than common rodents. Those eating the cats are doing Dubai a public service by ridding the city of this menace, thus reducing accidents on the roads and relieving the burden on feline charities. So why deny Dubai’s hard working labourers a hearty meal every now and then? Tim B Dubai How could people do such a thing .. eat a pet! there is not enough meat on the markets that human have to eat everything or anything who don't have the power to defend them self? I'm so ashamed to be a human being sometimes really! and now i fear even more for my friend ’s cat who disappeared last month! who knows what might happened to her knowing that people who lives around us eat cat like they would eat any other meat! shame on you! to whom it might concern!delicacies or not!!! Laetitia.R Dubai Horror of Horrors in Today’s 7 Days front page. Cute little pussy cats, enemies to no man, been slaughtered and BOILED to appease the appetites of hungry laborers. These are my thoughts as the maid brought me in my breakfast this morning. Unable to swallow my caviar, I run down 2 flights of stairs in my mansion and jump onto my computer to scribe this diatribe. How can people boil cats? Its disgusting. The only way to cook cat is to fry it. Add loads of garlic, a smooching of lemon, perhaps chopped tomatoes (I never really know what my head cook puts into these dishes) and fried onion. Adorn the dish with decapitated snake entrails and eat. Yum yum gorgeous. Sometimes I actually fly this dish in from South China but it tends to cool on the flight. Best bet is to buy the Chef and bring him over permanently. If other readers like their food different please let me know. My authors are currently working on a cook book for cockroaches and termites. But please folks. Boiled cat is a no no. Cool Hand Luke Dubai To the people of Dubai of all nationalities I would like to tell you that animal treatment here is very offensive.To those of you who mistreat animals like cats,I would like to tell you proudly that you really don’t have a heart .Ive heard a lot of stories of what people do to cats and other animals but this has really gotten too far. I’ve heard throwing cats on cars as a game, kicking, hurting, scaring, but this is the worst treatment I have ever heard of. As a local in Dubai I have never heard this happen in my country. Eating cats is not only going to take you strait to hell, it is going to be very mean and cruel of you to eat these domestic animals who can be your pets. Don’t you think before eating these animals ? I really think that Dubai Municipality should not stand for this. They should not ignore the fact that people who don’t have feelings are eating stray cats .Dubai labor camps should not allow this . I think that it is fair enough for anyone who eats a domestic animal such as a cat should be punished .For the labor camps in Jebel Ali house workers from the countries China, Vietnam, Korea, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh who those of you who eat cats should really be stopped and punished and stop this dirty habit especially in an Islamic country. If I see any person mistreating any poor, stray, domestic creature I will certainly not stand for this and I will report them to Dubai police. | ||||||
| 144 | Punk42AE Donor ID: 036635522 Thu, Feb 01, 2007, 05:29 | Just caught a show on Discovery last night about the 150+ story building they are putting up. It ended about 90 stories up, how many have they built to date Nerve? Looks like it will be a marvel there. | ||||||
| 145 | nerveclinic ID: 105222 Fri, Feb 02, 2007, 08:44 |
Punk I think they are still a about 90 sories last time I read a few weeks ago. The do one floor a week. There's been a delay with it lately though. They are not officially disclosing the final hieght because they don't want competitors to simply build a slightly bigger one. They are also designing it so that additional hieght can be added later. Dubai does a really good job of creating these mega projects that get a lot of press. Strip these away (And granted it's a lot to strip away) and it's still just an average place. They are really good at self promotion though so they are getting lots of press. The latest I've heard is they are building the biggest amuesment park in the world. It will be double the size of Disney World. Also a hotel that will be completely under water. The sheik claims the current projects are only 10% of what will be here in the end. | ||||||
| 146 | nerveclinic ID: 714549 Sun, Feb 04, 2007, 10:53 |
I posted this in the golf section but I thought I would post it here too. Saturday I went to the Dubai Desert Classic. I got a late start but I followed Tiger's back 9 holes. What a difference to an American tournament. Maybe 5% of the size an American gallery would have been. I doubt there were even 10,000 people. Some players literally had no one watching since everyone was following Woods group or Els. Woods put one of his shots close to the spectator ropes and it was easy to run over and get the closest spot on the rope about 10 feet away from him to watch his shot. I inadvertently walked into the players walk area at the end of a hole and was politely asked to step out just as I watched Tiger walk by a few feet from me. 2 treats. The 17th hole is a short par 4, only 359 yards. The only problem is it dog legs to the right and there's a group of palm trees blocking the shot to the green. I was waiting for Woods to hit and couldn't understand why the guy who controls the pace of play was keeping the red flag up. Yes there was a group on the green, but come on, no one is going to actually put it on there I thought, no way. As soon as the green was clear he raised the green flag and Woods astonished everyone by putting the ball around the palm trees and onto the green in one on a par 4. He missed eagle by a foot or two. The other players with him both were 30-40 yards short of the green. Then the par 5 18th. This is a very skinny green with a viewing building directly behind it just a few feet from the green and a lake directly in front of it. There is no room for error. The other two with Woods, Derksen and Jimenez both laid their second shots up in front of the lake. Woods pulled out a fairway wood and dropped the ball onto the green. Another thrill for the crowd. Except for the palm trees and a lot of sand you would have thought you were at a European tournament. Mostly Brits and other Europeans attending. Any Middle Easterners blended in wearing western clothing. It seemed to be all Brits running the tournament. It was a nice experience seeing such a great player but being able to get very close to the action very easily. 50 Bucks to get in. Next year I will try not to party the night before and get there a little earlier...8-} | ||||||
| 147 | Pancho Villa ID: 37154320 Sun, Feb 04, 2007, 11:21 |
Nerve, I was thinking about you when I read about the tournament this morning. Thanks for the story. | ||||||
| 148 | Pancho Villa ID: 37154320 Sat, Mar 03, 2007, 09:27 |
Last month you got to see Tiger Woods in action. I hope this weekend you get to see the Tiger Woods of tennis, Roger Federer, play in the Dubai Open. Federer will be considered one of the all time greats in tennis, right up there with Conners, McEnroe, Laver and Sampras. Actually, he's more dominant than any of them, as there's really no one on his level right now. Hope you get a chance to check him out. | ||||||
| 149 | nerveclinic ID: 27051103 Sun, Mar 04, 2007, 03:37 |
I have no interest whatsoever in Tennis but I would go to see Federer had it been "easy". There was a chance I could get a free ticket and I was going to go if I did. That fell through and now the $27.00 tickets are selling for $270 from scalpers (and that was the semi finals) so I won't be going. I did get free VIP tickets to Cirque De Sole about two weeks ago. These were $200.00 tickets that included a party before and during intermission (Yes booze was served.) They were literally front row seats in the middle of the stage. It was a real thrill to see the show only 4 feet from the stage. Another one of those things that you can do here that would be much harder to pull off in the States. I went to a party this weekend (50-60 people) where I was the only Caucasian and one of only 2 non Muslims. Everyone was gracious and polite and didn't as much as flinch when I said I was American. These weren't locals but Muslims of Indian and African descent. As anticipated, while plenty of people here don't like Bush, there's been zero hostility toward my nationality. Of course that could all change if we bomb Iran which is right across the pond from here. There's even been talk that if they hit radioactive targets it could have an effect on us (Although I don't know how much truth there is to that.) | ||||||
| 150 | Nerveclinic ID: 30245138 Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 11:15 |
Quick Update Well summer is here. Thursday and Friday the highs will be 87 degrees. I'm sure you saw the headline. Halliburton is moving it's world headquarters here. Seems they want to be closer to the oil...and maybe the next war zone they'll help rebuild. Finally, I've discovered a new club. It's been here all along I just didn't pay attention. The kicker? It's literally 3 New York blocks from my house. An easy (and safe)walk. The main dance floor is outside and holds about 600-700. It's the first photo on their web page. Interior rooms are nice also including the bed room... here's the Link Chi @ the Lodge I heard the drum beats getting home late lots of nights (Outdoor dance floor) and finally made it over. Quite the scene. Mostly Europeans with a smattering of other nationalities thrown in. The place was packed. I'll be back. | ||||||
| 151 | Nerveclinic ID: 30245138 Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 11:23 |
here's the Halliburton story. link | ||||||
| 152 | Punk42AE Donor ID: 036635522 Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 11:26 | Since you said it's a "Safe" walk, does that mean alot of places seem mid 80's seedy NY? | ||||||
| 153 | Perm Dude ID: 20252136 Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 11:26 |
Sweet pic of the dance place. So I should probably fax stuff to you c/o them, now? :) | ||||||
| 154 | Nerveclinic ID: 30245138 Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 11:38 |
Since you said it's a "Safe" walk, does that mean a lot of places seem mid 80's seedy NY? Actually pretty much everywhere is a safe walk here. Although it definitely has it's share of "seedy", just without the drug dealers. | ||||||
| 155 | Baldwin ID: 3503618 Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 14:08 |
Haliburton has announced they are moving their headquarters to Dubai. Send them a warm Poliboard greeting when they show up, Nerve. 8] | ||||||
| 156 | nerveclinic ID: 232321615 Fri, Mar 16, 2007, 17:50 |
Sandstorm today, actually the last two days. Looks like pollution, stings the eyes. You have to constantly rub stuff out of them. Cuts visibility, diverted 5 flights from the airport today It's the second one since I moved here but the first one was not this bad. It hit 99 degrees yesterday (Hot even for here in March) and I was going to hit the beach today but changed my mind when the sand - dust storm hit. So the Northeast is getting hit with snow, and I'm getting hit by sand.  Nerve | ||||||
| 157 | nerveclinic ID: 232321615 Fri, Mar 16, 2007, 18:01 |
No that's not me in the picture... 8-} | ||||||
| 158 | Baldwin ID: 14358177 Mon, May 14, 2007, 02:41 |
The people who hijacked Iran naturally don't like 'west friendly' spirit of Dubai so naturally...DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran's president led a raucous anti-American rally in this tightly controlled U.S. ally in the Persian Gulf, a day after a low-key visit by U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney aimed at countering Tehran's influence in the region.The question that occurs to me is what is the true makeup of that expatriate community? They could arguably be predicted to contain mostly wealthier element refugees escaping the Islamist revolution, or conversely poorer economic refugees. Iran's 'secret service' [whatever they may call theirs] surely spends a great deal of effort infiltrating and influencing that population. If I were Nerve I'd be getting a handle on this. | ||||||
| 159 | nerveclinic ID: 504531413 Mon, May 14, 2007, 15:43 |
This rally took place literally directly across the street from my apartment. It is less then 50 yards away. I could hear the cheers but didn't know what it was. There couldn't have been too many people...it's a small soccer "stadium" it's closer to a high school football bleacher set-up made of cement. The pool on roof of our apartment building was closed and made off limits by Dubai police. Obviously worried about snipers. The apartment guards looked nervous when I asked what was up and they wouldn't tell me. Played dumb. I'm not at all concerned. You have to be here to understand. In the last 6 months I haven't had anyone look at me even slightly cross eyed when I say I am an American. Please note the article states most of the crowd was Iranians. I was in a government office today waving my passport around giving them a hard time because they won't take my $1,500 internet deposit by credit card, they want cash. They looked sheepish that it was the rule. Three separate government officials all knew I was American and they were pretty apologetic about the deposit issue. I had some fun with them. The first time I went in there I was actually nervous. Ha! Now I walked right up to the supervisor while she was with another customer and asked her why the internet company in the free zone (Corporate owned) doesn't require a deposit but you do? I told her it's because she works for the government. I know, ugly American again but if you had to deal with some of the crap I've had to deal with.... Funny they all agreed with me, one of them told me to go talk to the supervisor to see if I could change her mind and he encouraged me to do it even though she was with a customer. It was obvious to me none of them were bothered by my nationality. The rally is a pretty logical reaction to what America has done in the region...hello. If it was a rally in America there would have been over turned cars and tear gas. They hate Bush and Cheney, not America or Americans. They love Bill Clinton, which may be why Hillary wins this next election. A lot of the world feels that way about Bill. If the US actually invades Iran...then I might get a little more concerned, probably more about nuclear fall out then anything. Baldwin you may want to get a handle on it, it will probably be more dangerous in US cities if we invade Iran then here brother. Until you come here...Ya really don't know. I feel safer here then San Francisco. | ||||||
| 160 | Species Dude ID: 07724916 Mon, May 14, 2007, 16:08 | Screw politics.....I want more fun curry-and-rice stories, eating monkey brains, or any other funny/awkward culture clash stories, nerve! ;-) | ||||||
| 161 | Great One Sustainer ID: 053272014 Mon, May 14, 2007, 16:11 | I want video of some these crazy drivers! Nerve, can you videotape a morning commute to work one day?! lol... | ||||||
| 162 | Baldwin ID: 14358177 Mon, May 14, 2007, 16:28 |
"You have to be here to understand". - Nerve Understand I in no way meant to imply I was imparting some knowlege of Dubai over and above your own. That such a secular, west friendly country exists so close to Mecca and the home of Islamism blows my mind. There is some very strange disconnect going on that I haven't got close to the bottom of...either Islamism is far more unpopular in the muslim world than we are led to believe or there is something very very atypical at work in the power elite of that country and history that hasn't been explained anywhere I've seen. | ||||||
| 163 | nerveclinic ID: 27051103 Tue, May 15, 2007, 05:33 |
Species Screw politics.....I want more fun curry-and-rice stories, eating monkey brains, or any other funny/awkward culture clash stories, nerve! ;-) And then Species there's the stories I can't even talk about here because it's a PG rated forum. Great One I want video of some these crazy drivers! Nerve, can you videotape a morning commute to work one day?! lol... Great One they are on You Tube. Try a search of something like Dubai Diving. It's not as bad as when I first got here because what I didn't realize at the time is some of it was Ramadan related. Everyone fasts all day (4AM to 6PM) not even water and then rushes to get home to eat with family by 6PM. They are dizzy and in a hurry. This goes on for a month. Also it's not as crowded here since low season has started, it calms down when the heat starts up. The last few days have hit 110 degrees. The driving is still bad though. I was planning on starting a part 2 for this thread and updating some recent experiences. If I get the internet which is starting to look good, I will really get more info out. I went back to the internet office today and spoke with the head manager. He was great. Very polite, soft spoken, anxious to help. As soon as I get a form signed by our local partner he is giving me the internet without any deposit. That's $1,500 I can hang on to and really the guy was more polite and professional then most American business people you deal with. | ||||||
| 164 | Perm Dude ID: 2447187 Fri, May 18, 2007, 08:50 |
Drag racing in Dubai. I'm not so sure if this is a good release for those drivers, or just going to get them geared up for their commutes... | ||||||
| 165 | Pancho Villa ID: 42231410 Wed, May 23, 2007, 00:04 |
I hope nerve doesn't mind if I semi-hijack his thread, but I had an experience this evening that fits the thread title perfectly. In my business, I deal mostly with new homeowners, most of them at least fairly upscale. Many of my customers are immigrants. Recently, I have done jobs for Mexicans, Chinese, Taiwanese, Laotians, Pakistanis, Ecuadorians, Argentines, Vietnamese, Columbians, Italians and Bosnians. This evening I had an appointment with a man named Peter, who, on the phone, had a heavy accent. I arrived at his home a few minutes before he did, and his wife met me at the door. I introduced myself, she apologized for knowing little English and introduced herself as Ludmila. I asked if she was from Russia. Yes. Where in Russia? Uzbekistan. Tashkent? No, south of Tashkent. Her husband came home and his English was very good, though heavily accented. His sister-in-law arrived. They had lots of questions for me, which was followed by conversations between them in their native tongue. When I was finished there, would I like to follow the sister-in-law to her new house and give her a bid? Of course. Then I asked if they were speaking Uzbek. No, Russian. These folks, mid-40s, had grown up in Uzbekistan when it was part of the USSR. They still consider it Russia, and say things were better when it was Russia. The Muslims are now in control. I have no idea what kind of business these folks are in, but they spent a total of $13,000 between the two houses on plantation shutters. Moving to the other side of the planet seems to have been quite rewarding for them, as well as most of my immigrant customers. | ||||||
| 166 | Species Dude ID: 07724916 Wed, Jun 20, 2007, 13:14 | You like Disneyland? How about Dubailand!! | ||||||
| 167 | nerveclinic ID: 105222 Wed, Jun 20, 2007, 15:54 |
Per species post. It's hard to imagine what's taking place here right now. It's not all fun and magic but I will tell you I have no desire to leave. Let me be more clear...right now I don't want to leave. (The paycheck helps) There's something special happening here. I'm watching an experiment. I'm watching a country change so dramatically it's like being there for a revolution. It's a cultural change for a whole region. It's the link between East and West. It's the Middle East evolving. It's fascinating to watch. By the way it's midnight and still 97 degrees. | ||||||
| 168 | AK ID: 4912013 Sat, Oct 20, 2007, 15:02 | No Updates? | ||||||
| 169 | nerveclinic ID: 105222 Sat, Oct 20, 2007, 15:08 |
Hi AK No I haven't updated in a while. Things that seemed different to me no seem mundane and ordinary so I've been less inclined to comment. Since you asked though I will add a quick update but I will do it in the new thread here... Moving part 2 | ||||||
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