So, the dinner party here takes on a whole new meaning! First, I have to say we probably have a fuller social calendar here than we do in the states, because since everyone is from somewhere else they are all eager to make new friends. This weekend alone we have three dinner parties - and the dinner party here is quite the social event.
On Thursday (the beginning of our weekend) we had a fantastic night with our new friends from Texas - new Expats to Dubai just like us. They have 4 beautiful children - three girls aged 9, 7 and 1 and one (very outnumbered but adorable) boy age 5. They had us over to their lovely house in Emirates Hills - a new housing community and one of the greener areas in Dubai. The kids had a FABULOUS time running wild in their huge pool and yard, eating nuggets and ice cream, playing Moxie girls and soldiers, and watching a movie. All 5 of them (the baby was sleeping) get along famously, and they are like a little desert posse already. We ate homemade mexican food (which you can't get here in restaurants) and had a special Texas drink called Summer Beer, which rivals my house specialty of the Iced Tea drink, and WOW do those sneak up on you! I'll make y'all a big pitcher when I get home. A great night all around!
On Friday we were invited to another home on the Palm owned by our friends - he is the president of Atlantis Dubai - which makes for a splendid dinner party. Their home is beautiful - set for entertaining - and he used all the hotel resources (including furniture from the hotel) to pull out all the stops. Upon arriving the staff greeted us with fresh juices, champagne and cold towels. We then proceeded to the back yard, which was fully decorated in arabian style with lanterns and torches all over the beach and a beautiful arabic dining area with pillows, drapes and flowers everywhere. You could kayak, fish, swim or innertube off the beach - all assisted by a full staff of Atlantis employees. The chefs at Atlantis cooked an amazing dinner of lamb, short ribs, local fish and salads, topped off with the most amazing assortment of pasteries. But the best part was the guest list! We met (and thorougly enjoyed) the Vice President/Incoming President of Maldives and his family - his wife, daughter, and son in law (from Cupertino, CA!) and their children. They, of course, were the guests of honor - but were the most fun, easy going people and such a pleasure to hang out with. The other guests were their neighbors - a German appliance importer who looked like the Big Lebowski and was the seriously the funniest person I have ever met. I now have lots of German cultural tidbits like "Did you know it's not a real Weinerschnitzel unless it's as big as a toilet?" or "I try to teach my boys - if it's free, eat all you can. Free food is not to be taken lightly. No really, stuff it in. Get some whipped cream on that ice cream".
It is truly a marvelous experience to sit at a dinner table with people from all over the world and laugh at the things that all draw us together - children, expat life, and, well, weinerschnitzel. It brings it home that at the bottom of things - hoteliers, bankers, toaster salesmen and presidents are just people.
Tomorrow night we are hosting Augusto's team (6 bankers, their wives and families) for Italian night. I'm cooking pasta. Yes, for those of you who have sampled my cooking, I will need your thoughts and prayers. Wish me luck. Too bad I don't have the staff at Atlantis at my disposal!
Next weekend we are taking off for Oman. We're staying at resort in a beach cove, and you can choose to access it by speedboat or paragliding. We're going with speedboat. The weather here is STILL crazy hot - over 100 and 95ish at night.
We think of home and all our wonderful friends and families there often! We hope you are all well!
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