I Love The Olympics !

The 2012 London Summer Olympics have started - don't you love it ?

I love the Olympics, my kids and husband love the Olympics....when we had dogs they loved the Olympics!

Since our kids were small, from opening ceremony to closing ceremony we would stay huddled in our home for three weeks, glued to every moment of coverage, every event that we could catch. We never cared to watch water polo, synchronized swimming or archery any other time of the year, but during the Olympics, any sport played during the three weeks of coverage we watched, we become instant fans.

We are Olympic junkies - we talk about the athletes, cry over the heart wrenching stories, cry with the athletes when they win, cry with them when they lose and even cry when they hug their mom's. And when our national anthem is played, well we better have the tissues available, more tears. We cannot get enough of the games, even late into the night watching the late, late night coverage until the broadcaster signs off. When the closing ceremony is over and the games are done, we have withdrawals, sad to say goodbye and hope that the next two years go fast until the next Olympic Games return.

This time the Olympics are different for me. I am on the other side of the world, not watching from the comfort of my United States home, but in a foreign country in the Middle East, observing and watching the games from their perspective, their point of view. This time I am not seeing just Americans compete, the focus here is not on one country, it is much more global.

Some of these countries are so proud just to be at the Olympics and having one of their countrymen or women participating. Some of these countries know it is a long shot that they will win, even place, but they are at the games, proudly representing their countries. There are heart wrenching stories about even getting the athletes to the games, trying to scrape together uniforms. Qatar, Brunei, Saudi Arabia allowed for the first time, some of their women athletes to participate in these 2012 summer games - that this huge and how awesome for those women. Several of these small countries finished dead last in their heats, like swimming, but still broke their countries records doing it. How amazing is that !
Being here, in a foreign country has been a good reminder for me that winning is not everything, sometimes the victory is simply getting there.

In the United Arab Emirates, they don't have the broadcasting and coverage that is being done in the United States, but I do have 10 channels, all but four of them being broadcast in different languages other than English. I get it all... Arabic, German, Japanese, etc, but you can hear the excitement, still see the tears and fell the pride just like I experience when I watch my own home country, the Americans.

The games have made me especially homesick for my kids. The Olympics are rich with family time and I love it, cherish it. One of my daughters and her husband hosted an opening ceremony party at my home in states to kick off  the games - you go, keep the traditions alive.

 But how awesome it is to be here in the United Arab Emirates and experience the games with different eyes, in a different country on the other side of the world.

The Do's and Don'ts of Ramadan - No Chewing Gum in Public ?

Ramadan Mubarak ! Have a blessed Ramadan everyone.

The moon sighting committee (true statement) of the United Arab Emirates announced that the 30 days of Ramadan start today - July 20, 2012. 

Ramadan is like all the United States holidays wrapped up into one.

Millions of Muslims around the world are ready to observe Ramadan. The next 30 days are all about caring, sharing, family and getting closer to God.

Ramadan is considered the holiest month of the Islamic calendar and every Muslim who is past the age of puberty, mentally and physically fit, must fast.

Those that fast are asked to abstain from food, drinks and sexual activities during the fast hours. Negative behavior, such as lying, using foul or insulting language is also forbidden.

The fast starts at dawn, which is indicated by the morning prayer and ends at dusk and is marked by the prayer at sunset. Some cities also fire off cannons to mark the end of the fast. The fasting continues every day for 30 days. During this 30 days, the Muslim's also aspire to become more generous, good to others and give to charities.

The Red Crescent Charity has donation boxes available all over Dubai. Like the one in the picture below, they are always full or almost full. I have yet to see an empty donation box. The people in Dubai are very charitable.

Iftar is the meal eaten after sunset, traditionally eaten as a family, which also includes extended family members and friends. Because iftar is the main meal of the day, it is a time of gathering family, sharing stories and traditions. Iftar meals are also offered in lavish buffets at most of the eating establishments around Dubai. It seems like every eating establishment in Dubai wants to participate in Ramadan by offering an iftar buffet, including fast food chains.
Food, food and more food - I have heard that if you like buffets, you will be in food heaven during Ramadan. The picture below shows an iftar buffet right before sunset. All they need is the people. Amazing to say the least !

During the day, most of the restaurant and other food establishments are closed, a few serve take out only. In the picture below, is a row of restaurants at the Emirates Mall, normally these seats are overflowing, busy, noisy, but at 4:00 on a Monday afternoon, there is no one , it's eerily quiet, only the servers preparing for the evening crowd.

Because non Muslims travel into or live in the United Arab Emirates, an online guide is available on what non Muslim's can expect, which also includes the do's and don't's on how to behave during Ramadan, and believe me some of us non Muslims need all the help and reminders we can get.

The local newspapers have published information for non Muslim's repeatedly, so hopefully no one is caught off guard or finds themselves on the other side of the law. That would not be fun !

The Do's and Don't's of Ramadan for Non- Muslims (taken from the Local Newspaper, Gulf News 7/20/2012):

• Don't eat or drink in public before sunset. This includes consuming anything in your car, taxi, including chewing gum. If caught - it is considered an offense for which you can be fined.
• Refrain from wearing revealing clothes throughout Ramadan. You can be fined for inappropriate dress/clothing.
• When it is time to eat (ending of fast), don't begin eating before anyone else and wait for the prayer to sound  which signifies the beginning of If tar.
• Don't smoke in public.
• Don't try to pressure a Muslim to break his/ her fast. You will be fines and jailed.
• Don't show public displays of affection. You both can be fined.
• Don't raise the volume on your car radio, stereo or TV during prayer times.
• Don't swear in public.
• Greet Muslim colleagues and friends with Ramadan Mubarak or Ramadan Kareem.
• Most food outlets will have take out but no in dining will be allowed during the fast.
• Some Hotels are exempt from this and can provide regular dining in experiences at designated times.

OK that list is not too bad, but I am going to have to be very conscientious about observing the do's and don't's and not get myself in trouble. No gum chewing in public during the day? That could be hard to remember,but I will try my hardest to keep myself out of trouble, especially not to be fined. The fines can be very hefty and everyone has been warned during Ramadan they cost you more.

The first night of breaking the fast, Jeff and I were walking around Al Barsha Park as the sun set, the call to prayer started and could be heard all around us. There are so many mosques - within a mile or closer of one another - that the reciting of the prayer was in stereo. It gave me goose bumps as we walked and listened. So cool, so awesome - so fun to be here during this time of Ramadan.

Even the heat cannot damper my excitement ...the temperature in Dubai is expected to hit 121 degrees tomorrow and will continue to climb higher the next couple weeks. Yikes!

The Biggest Holiday in the Middle East Starts This Week

Ramadan is upon us !

Most of the expats flee Dubai during the summer months and miss Ramadan but I am looking forward to being here, experiencing this special time of the year for Muslims.

All the preparations have been made, the city of Dubai is all a glow, lit up and decorated. Light, lights and more lights, in Dubai lights are hung in abundance for special events and major holidays. The white, shining lights are everywhere - just like Christmas in the states.

This is a big event and the city is all a buzz, alive.

Emriates Mall decorated for Ramadan

Government edict's have been broadcast and announced.

The prayer timings have been precisely noted and advertised.

Prayer timings for Ramadan posted in the Gulf News

The sales in the malls and stores are unbelievable.

The Iftar buffets are ready to begin. At sun down, for 30 days, lavish buffets are available around the city at most of the eating establishments. The picture below show the lavish Madinat  Jumeriah right before sunset.

People enjoying an iftar buffet

Employees are cheering - the work hours will be decreased by two hours every day for one month. Who would not like that, 40 hours off early for one month!

Ramadan is a time when Muslims spend time praying and fasting for 30 days from dawn to dusk, making resolutions and changes that will improve their lives and the lives of others around them.

I can't wait to live and be part of Ramadan. More to be written and shared later...this is so exciting!

So Many Choices and Options - Where Should We Live ?

The time has come for Jeff and I to find a new place to live in Dubai. Yeah !!

Our contract is almost up at the Hotel Apartment were we have been living. It is time to leave this amazing cocoon of service and move into a more realistic, long term place. Good things cannot last forever. I will miss the staff at the hotel, they have spoiled me beyond my expectations, but it will be so nice to have a place that I can make our own.

This is exciting - there are so many options - hmmm, where should we move... to a big spacious villa, a high rise apartment, a studio apartment, one or two bedroom, a penthouse ? Okay, maybe not a penthouse, but a girl can dream and it was nice to imagine the possibility if, for only a few minutes. One thing is certain we would like a extra space for visitors.

Should we live by... the sea, the marina, out in the desert, in the middle of the city, down town Dubai, by the Burj Khalifa and the largest shopping mall in the world ? In Dubai, you live either live on the sea side or the desert side. The highway, Sheikh Zayed Road splits the city down the middle and it decides which side of the city you live in. Right now, we live on the sea side of the city and love it.

Our preference is the sea side and the closer I am to the white sandy beaches the better. Now that I live so close to the beach and have become thoroughly addicted, I need to keep feeding my beach addiction and stay close, at least within running or walking distance. I never knew that I was such a beach person until I moved to Dubai.

So many options ! Where do I start ?

I decided to start with Jumeriah Beach Residence and the Marina area first.These two areas are among our very favorite places in  Dubai. 

Jeff on Marina walk - gorgeous !

Notice the twisting skyscraper to the left of the picture. So cool. 

The Marina and Jumeriah Beach Residence is stunning. It reminds me of a little Hong Kong or Singapore. It is a city within a city.  There are shops galore, grocery stores, restaurants and entertainment in abundance on the ground level of the apartments. The night life is fun and alive. Expat's (I am one) love to live in this area and I can see why. The beach and marina are close to all of the apartments - within walking distance. There is even a hotel that keeps camels,bikes and paddles boards on the beach to rent and ride. What a choice - should I ride a camel, a bike or a board ? I guess it all depends on how you are feeling that day.

You can get a little of everything you need or want in the Marina or Jumeriah Beach Residence.

View of beach and shops along Jumeriah Beach Residence

All the long term residences are high rise apartments with a a few villa's mixed in here and there. A little pricey, which is due to the close proximity of the beach or marina. The desert side is a lot more inexpensive,but for us, it is too far away from everything and doesn't seem as exciting. Besides I currently own and have lived in a home in the states, why not be different. 

To see the vacant apartments you need an agent, there is no other way around it. I walked into the Better Homes and Garden office on Jumeriah Beach Residence and was quickly introduced to Imran Hussain Mazid. A fun young man, born in Bangladesh, but raised in London.

Some of the Jumeriah Beach Residence Apartments

Imran has been working himself in a frenzy trying to find us a place to live. He asked, "do you have a wish list ? " Of course, only a few things... let me tell you ....OK, Imran, you better write it down.

I want:

• Lots of glass in the apartment
• Floor to ceiling windows in most of the rooms
• En suite bathrooms
• Preference is the apartment be situated on a high floor in the building
• A balcony or two
• One private parking stall (underground)
• Totally outfitted kitchen, which also includes a washer and dryer
• If possible, a study or maid's room included
• A corner apartment is a also preferred because we would get more space.

Last request and I know this is quirky, but the apartment building must also have an nice, modern, well kept lobby. If the lobby is not acceptable, I don't view the apartment. I figure if the owners don't keep the lobbies nice, they also don't provide good maintenance to the apartments.

Not too bad and unrealistic - right !?

Imran said, "easy, I will keep in touch", took my short list of wants and went to work.

Oh Imran - I forgot to add two more things. What Jeff wants....a really good gym and a large pool. Take that into consideration when setting up appointments.

In the Marina and Jumeriah Beach Residence (they sit right next to one another ), the really popular one or two bedroom apartment usually start @ 100,000 - 170,000 DHS,  yearly, which in US dollars is $26,000 - $42,500. Break that down it is about $2200 - $3600 a month.

The square footage is anywhere from @ 850 square feet to 2000 square feet.  The apartments cost more than my mortgage in the states, even though my home in Utah is much bigger and has a yard.

We have decided against looking at villa's, they are too big and we would have to outfit the whole house, which usually includes all the appliances. You also need to consider the cost of water and electricity in Dubai, both are very expensive over here and an apartment would use a lot less of both. One thing I dont want or need - a yard ! Everyone I have met that that has lived or is living in a villa has horror stories about the cost of water to keep a few plants thriving and small sections of grass green. Not for me. We will have to buy furniture for the apartment but not as much as we would for a villa.

Living here this short time, Jeff and I have realized we don't need that big of a house anymore and really could live in a much smaller home very comfortably. And all the stuff we have in our home in the states - we could probably get rid of most of it and never miss it. We Americans... me, me,me...  love stuff and want our homes big. It is nice to be able to look at things differently. It could be time to downsize.

Imran called - I have five appointments scheduled tomorrow.

Here we go. 

My first day viewing apartments  was hot, an absolute scorcher. Just going from the taxi to walking to the front door of the lobby, we were sweating profusely,it was running off my nose and down my neck.

Miserable but the heat could not keep my excitement down.

A friend, Heather, came along with me and as we exited the second taxi we looked at at each other and said , "what were we thinking ?" That particular day it was 113 degrees and 95 % humidity. The weather advisory said it felt like 136 degrees ! 

Imran hit a home run and showed me four beautiful apartments that had most of the items on my wish list. We are going again next week and will continue until we find the perfect "new" home. There are so many choices and options to pick from in Dubai, I do not want to jump on one of the first few I see, we want to take a look at a lot of options. We have a little time to make a decision and final selection, but it is so fun to look.

All I know is that it is fun living differently than we ever have before. Sometimes I still cannot believe we are over in Dubai, but what an awesome experience we are having.

Stay tuned .... more to come.

Off house hunting.

Traditions of the 4th of July & Jet Lag Again

My 30 day vacation at home, in states zipped by so fast. In a flash it was over and it was time to get back on a plane, taking the long flights back to Dubai. What was I thinking - was I really leaving to go back on the 4th of July !?

I have cherished the time I have spent with my kids, grand kids, other family and friends. If I have learned one thing about life - always tell those you love exactly how you feel. Don't let the moment go because you may not get it back.

Our family loves the 4th of July. I don't exactly know why. Could it be the patriotism and being proud to be an American taught to me, my sibling, my kids and all other extended family members by my father? Could it be the fun colors and activities that occur on this day - parades, BB Q's, fireworks? Could it be the excessive family time that occurs on the 4th, spending non stop time together, but not having to buy one gift for anyone?  Whatever it is - we absolutely love it, look forward it and have a list as long as my arm fraught with tradition that we do on that day. People new to the family sometimes don't get our fascination and love for the 4th of the July, don't find it as fun and at times may think some of the activities are a little ridiculous.What matters most is that we are sharing and making memories together as a family, we like being together and cherish this day like no other. It is, what it is and we hold on to our 4th of July tradition very tightly.

My father is a member of the American Legion. Normally they provide color guard and the twenty- one gun salute at veteran funerals, raising the flag, etc. Today on the 4th, he was part of the morning cannon firing and flag ceremony that was held in conjunction with the Kaysville Rotary Breakfast. What better way to start the 4th and so fitting!

It was fun to see his excitement, marching together as a veteran group, raising the flag and continuing to teach all of us about being a proud American.

The Kaysville Fun Run soon started right after, bright and early, 7:30 A.M. Cassidy, Taeler, Ellie, Kurt, Emily and myself were running the 5K.

The run event planners mix the runners with walkers that get in your way, the course isn't a very hard, the shirts are always too big and it seems just a touch disorganized, but it starts the day off right. There is a lot of excitement and music in the air and the money -
$20.00 to run - goes to a good cause. OK , I admit , it is a little hokey, but we like it.

We made it - all of us finished the run and crossed the finish line in good time.

Off to breakfast.

We normally eat at the Kaysville Rotary breakfast (cost is either $5 each person or $20.00 for a family of 6) which is pancakes, eggs and ham ( not that great and sometimes it is cold, but once again it is tradition). This year we changed it up a little - my son -in -laws wanted to make breakfast at my home and it was delightful. AE made a dutch oven potato, bacon, sausage and egg dish and Shawn made blue berry pancakes, which we topped with my mothers homemade syrup. Yummy !!!!!!

As soon as breakfast was over and we were all dressed head to toe in our red, white and blue, we were off to the Kaysville parade.  Each one of us talk about and share what we will be wearing on the 4th weeks in advance. Making sure we have the right outfit, that it is perfect for the day. Even down to the smallest members, we show our patriotic colors. Little Ellie Grace stole the show in her red, white and blue.

The parade is so popular you have to save your shady, prime parade spot in advance. Because it got so out of control in previous years, the citizens of Kaysville are not allowed to save their spots until July 3, which means midnight on July 2. At @ 8:00 PM on July 2 the fun and parade spot jockeying begin. It is all out war and people are serious about their spots - we are! If you don't sit with your blankets until midnight they are moved and someone else will take your place. We make the wait until midnight into a party. Next year it has already been decided that we will have a BBQ while we save our parade spot and wait. Extended family members take turns claiming our prime parade space - it is so important we get the same spot. Another year - success !

I was sad that I could not participate in the rest of the days festivities. After the parade, it was time to say goodbye and be on my way to the airport. My time was short. This time around it was harder to say goodbye and there were a few tears. Yes, which includes me.  We are one big crying family and proud of it.

While I was flying from Salt Lake City to Atlanta, my kids and extended family continued on with the 4th of July fun and celebration, which was the BBQ at the grandparents and fun on the billboard size slip and slide that runs down their big sledding hill. The little Kids play on the slip and slide, but watch out, the adults always have the most fun and their bodies pay for it the next day. At the end of the fun, everyone is bruised, limping, scratched up, with grass and mud covering your entire body and stuck in places that it should not be in. Doesn't that sound like fun ! Just have the pain relievers and hot bath waiting.

While on my second flight, Atlanta to Dubai,  first class mind you, my family concluded the July 4th fun with attending the Kaysville City fireworks. The city fireworks include patriotic music glaring over crackling speakers for everyone to hear, vendors selling neon plastic rings that glow in the dark and lots and lots of families - 40,000+ to be exact ! We all crowd in the high school stadium or on the grasses surrounding the DATC or Davis High School.

The 4th is one big party that lasts the whole day and we make the most of it.

The day is over - another July 4th done and gone. Memories made. W
hile my family is resting and recovering from their slip and slide injuries and sunburns, I am trying to get over my jet lag. It is so amazing how you can fall asleep in the middle of the day.

I am happy to be back with my hubby, my new temporary life in Dubai, but I am missing my kids, family and friends. I am a very lucky person and very blessed to have so many amazing people in my life.

Time to get some sleep.

OK, Dubai I am back, lets have some more fun and share what we learn with everyone. What do you have in store for me now?

We are heading into the hottest times of the year in the middle east. It was only 113 degrees today, but the day I flew in it topped out @ 120 degrees. Scorching hot and humid - ponytails will be an every day thing from now on. Ramadan is also coming, starting on July 20 and I look forward to seeing that in full swing, but no eating in public during the day. I cannot forget that.

Watch for more to come....