More Dubai

Our backyard - the Atlantis hotel in the distance...

When Augusto started working in the Middle East, I have to admit I knew nothing at all about the region, the people, the religion or the culture. I asked all the questions like "Is it safe?  Will you be kidnapped?"  I honestly believe the part of my brain that deals with geography was damaged sometime during childhood - I truly have no sense of the world and can't even remember the simplest of landmarks.  It is a real downer when playing Trivial Pursuit.  So this has been good for me - until now the "Middle East" to me meant Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and all conjured images of people that were dangerous, sexist, unfriendly and conservative.  Thank you, American media!

In fact, the UAE (United Arab Emirates) and other countries here that we have yet to explore are not only welcoming to Westerners, they are extremely proud to show off their beautiful traditions and heritage.  I love the line in Sex and the City 2 when Carrie says "It's like Jasmine and Aladdin...with cocktails!".  And in fact, it is.  Dubai is known as "the bubble" - because they have worked so hard to create an image of the ultimate destination.  Everything here is the biggest, the newest, the prettiest, the richest.  It is like a Disney movie, at least on the surface.  Of course, if everything here was really perfect, Augusto would probably be on a plane home!  It is, however, a very safe, very beautiful place to live, and the Emiratis (said Em-Er-Ah-Tees) are very accepting of other cultures. 

In fact, they totally dig Americans and the girls have been the subject of many photographs.  One of my favorites was a group of men at the mall who spoke no English who managed to pantomime that they wanted to take a picture with Georgia.  I explained this to G, and she immediately jumps in between two men wearing dishdashes, slings an arm around each of their necks, and yells "CHEESE!".  They couldn't get enough!  Keep in mind that in this culture, not only do women completely cover themselves, but they do not ever touch men, or even make eye contact with men they do not know.

I am continually entertained with how the Emiratis are particularly in to things I would consider "American".  Perfect example:  In the Mall of the Emirates (the same Mall with SkiDubai - the indoor ski slope...people skiing in dishdashes...but that's another story) there is a place called Magic Planet.  So, imagine all the rides and games at a traveling carnival bolted to the ground indoors, mixed with Chuck-E-Cheese and a giant arcade, and that's Magic Planet.  One of the rides is this giant Robot Arm - a ride for two people where you get strapped in and then the robot arm goes berserk - shakes you up and down, spins you around, turns you upside-down, the whole nausea inducing thing. And riding the Robot Arm are two middle aged women in full burka and abaya (the black robes and headdress that completely cover them)!  As they get tossed about and go upside-down their burkas flop over their heads and you can hear the screams of laughter coming from inside the burkas - like two giant black ghosts!  How great are these people!! 

For the record, I don't need to wear a burka but and considering it because truly - how many buffets could you eat without fear of the bulge if all you wore was a burka?  Come ON!

I implore all of you, again, to consider coming to visit us.  We would love to see you!  Please keep in touch - as fun as this adventure is, Rolling Hills is still our home and you are still all of our hearts!



We love you!

Team Sasso, Middle East

We're Finally Here!

Hello to our wonderful Friends and Family!

We have finally arrived in Dubai after taking the long way around and stopping in Mexico, London and Paris!  The girls were thrilled to finally arrive!

Fortunately, due to the fact that Augusto has been essentially living here since November of 2009, and since we've visited a few (well, 4) times - our home was more or less ready for our arrival.  We are living on the Palm Jumeirah - a man made island in the Arabian Gulf.  Check out the picture above - our villa is on Frond E (the 5th frond from land on the right hand side) out towards the end of the frond.  At the top of the Palm is Atlantis Dubai, and on the Crescent (the round part that surrounds the palm tree shape) there are several other luxury hotels (mostly still under construction). 

We arrived at the tail end of Ramadan, which is a huge holiday in which Emirates fast from sun up to sun down, and then feast every night.  This was interesting, since it meant that no restaurants were open during the day, and you can not even be seen eating or drinking - even water - during the day.  We would hide out in the house to eat, and we had to be careful not to even wander outside!  Most likely no one would care, but it would be considered extremely disrespectful!  We timed it well, though, because at the end of Ramadan is Eid, which is a four day long holiday full of parties, feasts, and general merriment.  We attended at Eid party at the Atlantis resort at Aquaventure - their waterpark.  It started at 7pm and ended late in the night with fireworks.  They had dozens of food stations from all over the world, a Ramadan tent, crafts, dancing, and even a nightclub!  I tell you, it was peculiar walking around at 10 at night, wearing a bikini, drinking a beer, and heading down the lazy river in an innertube - all in a Muslim country!   

We were so incredibly lucky to find this villa for rent - as you can tell we're right on the beach, which is completely private and largely deserted.  The kids are having a blast swimming in the Gulf (which is ridiculously warm - if I had to guess I'd say 95 degrees), which has little current and no surf, so it's very safe.  We also have lots of sea creatures pay visits - like sea stars, crabs, fish, blue blubber jellyfish and one sea snake - so the kids spend almost every day out there seeing what has turned up. 

We started school at the American School of Dubai last week - although it's already September 21st and we still haven't had a lick of homework.  Hmmm....things are a bit more relaxed out here!  So far we have been so lucky with the adjustment - they both like their teachers and seem to be making friends.  There is so much movement in and out of Dubai that a full 1/3 of each of their classes are new each year, so lots of kids are in the same boat! 

It is still incredibly hot here!  Last week it was about 105, and today it's finally starting to cool off and was about 95.  The days are scorching, but it is really nice to walk on the beach at night in shorts and tank tops and still stay warm! 

And about those shorts...I'm happy to report that I will not be sporting a burka during my time here.  The culture is truly very tolerant of expatriats, and we are not required to cover up entirely.  That being said, in "public" areas, like the mall, I am required to have my knees and shoulders covered.  If you get spotted wearing "immodest" clothes, you can get "red carded". No one is actually sure what the result of the red card is - and some women joke that they have drawers full of them.  You also can't show any physical affection while in public - no hand holding, kissing, etc. 

Those are the basics!  We have tons of travel planned in the upcoming months - our main reason for going abroad!  We're seeing Oman, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and Egypt all before coming home for Christmas! 

We miss you all terribly!  Keep us posted with stories from home!