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Category Archives: American University of Sharjah

Top 10 things…I will miss about the UAE.

24 Wednesday Sep 2014

Posted by lcmacdonald in American University of Sharjah, Dubai, I miss..., Sharjah, UAE

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I will miss so much more of the UAE than these 10 things.

#10 – Round-A-Bouts

At first round-a-bouts were a little intimidating to understand.  I have a feeling there are quite a few people here trying to figure them out still.  Once you get it, they are actually pretty awesome, but not in consistently high traffic areas.  Traffic continues to flow, and if you’re not sure which way to go, just go around again.  Rules to remember with round-a-bouts or ‘squares’ as I’ve heard them referred to, is that “whoever is in front, wins”.  If you’re in front of the guy beside you, and you need to turn but he isn’t, you have right of way (don’t forget to use your blinker).  Also, squares aren’t much different than intersections.  If you want to take the 3rd exit, you get in the right lane to merge into the centre ring, and basically turn right.  If there are 3 lanes going into a square, left lane turns left (and straight if there are 3 lanes coming out of the square), centre lane goes straight, right lane goes straight or right.  When their are only 2 lanes going into a square, left lane goes left and straight, right lane goes straight and right.  See.  Simple.

#9 – Having a ‘Guy’

So this did make it on my list after all.  You want a shelf hung, you call a ‘guy’ to hang the shelf.  You need a light change, call a ‘guy’ to do it.  Water my grass, the ‘guy’ comes by everything other day to turn the water on for 15 min, then turn it off again.  Need your car washed in your parking spot, you can have a ‘guy’ do it at home, or while you’re at the mall shopping.  Back broke off your chair, no problem, call the ‘guy’ to come and fix it.  We’ve even had half a dozen mice, ant infestation, and a bed bug scare.  We just called a ‘guy’ and the problem was solved.  Think my ‘guy’ will move to Canada with me?

#8 – Full service…everything

Who wants to get out of their car…for anything.  Gas, all full service, at every station except after 12:00am at some stations.  Remember drive-in’s?  You drove into the parking lot and honked, and someone would come out and take your order?  I have never done this but I’ve seen it done and not only at fast food restaurants.  I’ve seen people do this at grocery stores, hardware stores and other smaller places of business.

#7 – Spontaneous Holidays

The holidays on the calendar are tentative at best.  Every once in a while an announcement is made that certain sectors will not be working on certain days.  I’m sure it’s a rare thing.  But we saw this happen twice within a week.  This could also fall on my things I won’t miss about the UAE, as it makes planning difficult.  But hey, a bonus day off is nothing to complain about.

#6 – Inexpensive Services

Our favourite service has been dry-cleaning.  I get everything dry-cleaned.  Quilts, pillows, James work shirts and pants, the girls dresses, carpets, sleeping bags.  First of all my washing machine barely handles daily laundry for 5 let alone one quilt.  Second, I don’t have to iron shirts when someone else does a better job for $1/shirt.

#5 – Security

We live in a large, gated community.  There is a fence that runs around the entire University City.  Inside that each separate University or College is surround by it’s own fence.  Emirate police are posted at each gate entrance, randomly screening people who enter into the ‘city’.  Faculty/Staff are separated from students by a fence as well.  Guards are setup at A/C booths, or on patrol all day and night all over campus.  It sounds like we’re really locked down, but for the most part you don’t ever see these guys though you know they’re there.

The community is also small enough that we look out for each other.  My neighbours are familiar with my kids, as I am with theirs.  When my kids go to the store, they know and talk to the people that work there.  We’ve been surrounded by many friendly, caring people who watch out for each other.

#4 – Rain days

Rain days are another rarity, but a welcome one.  It is quite the novelty when it rains here as the drainage system is poor to non-existent.  Rain waters quickly pool in cul-de-sacs and round-a-bouts making instant swimming pools for puddle jumping.  What’s more fun than swimming in dirty street water fully clothed?

#3 – 98% chance of good weather, every day

Planning a camping trip?  Want to go to the beach or waterpark? No need to check the weather network to plan in advance.  Even if it rains it’s going to be a good day for anything.  Pick a day, and pack your stuff.

#2 – Camping when and wherever you like

No need to book ahead with the local government (unless you plan on camping in Dubai).  If there isn’t enough space in your desired location just drive a little further and drop your tent.  Don’t want to go too far off the road, no problem.  I’ve seen tents set up just off the highway many times (not that I would want to camp there).

#1 – All-Inclusive Campus life

We’ve certainly been spoiled here at the American University of Sharjah.  From the on-call carpenters and fix-it guys, to the full free access to community events and amenities (gyms, indoor and outdoor pools, grocery store, pharmacy, hair saloons, soccer fields, baseball diamond, cricket pitch,  tennis courts, basketball courts) all with in walking distance.  You really can’t beat the package we got here.  Friends were easily made as we’re all in the same boat of being expats away from our families.  All this made our initial landing here easier to bear, and hard to leave.  I hope we are able to come back some day.

 

Top 10 things…I miss about Canada.

13 Sunday Jul 2014

Posted by lcmacdonald in American University of Sharjah, Canada, I miss..., Sharjah, Traveling, UAE

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Consignment stores, Driving, Grocery Shopping, Left-hand turns, Road signs, seasons, Ski Dubai, Slurpees, Snow, UAE

I’ve been wanting to write this post for awhile about things I am beginning to miss about Canada.  Now that we’re heading back, I’ve also been thinking about what I’ll also miss about the UAE.  So there will be a theme to my next few posts.

My ultimate items are friends and family so I’m not going to include them on any of these lists.  I just can’t rank how much I love those people!  So here we go.

#10 – Slurpees

Who doesn’t want a huge glass of flavoured slushy ice on a hot day?  Why hasn’t this become popular here??  I’ve definitely been craving slurpees since the day we left.  Watch out Mr. G’s and 7-11, we’re coming for you.

#9 – Grocery shopping

Ever wondered what it would be like to go into a grocery store and find them out of stock of milk.  Or cheese.  Or ranch dressing.  Or even that one kind of popular cereal you usually get.  That’s what it’s like to shop here.  It’s not even obscure speciality items, it’s hit and miss with the regular items you would expect to be in stock… always.  I am looking forward to going to the grocery store and knowing I can get what I went in looking for.  How easy was that to take for granted.

#8 – Polite drivers

Maybe I’ve been out of touch too long.  I know there are still lots of crazy impatient people on the road, even in Canada.  Generally though it has been my experience that when you put your blinker on in Canada to merge into a lane, folks either move over or slow to give you space.  They DON’T typically speed up and swerve around you.  Isn’t that a novel idea.

#7 – Falling snow

Not even at Ski Dubai can you experience falling snow.  As a sci-fy geek and long time trekkie, driving through falling snow at night is the best experience (as long as I’m not the one doing the driving).

#6 – Left-hand turns

I completely understand why this isn’t possible in most areas here in the UAE.  It’s the way people behave on the roads here.  I’m certain car accident deaths due to left handed turns must have been substantial to make them nearly non-existent here now.  Especially with all the issues we face with distracted drivers, I guarantee I feel more confident making a left turn in Canada than I do here.

#5 – Properly labeled and positioned road signs

Driving still feels like a fairly new thing for a lot of people here, including the local transit authority.  They seem to be getting better though, or we’ve just gotten used to the way they post signage here.  When we first moved here, I could not figure out where we were on a map to save my life.  Lack of street names in English or altogether is part of the problem.  The other issue with signage here is that sometimes there are just so many converging roadways in one spot that it’s difficult to get the signage placed in such a way that gives drivers enough time to determine which route will take them to their destination.  This is frustrating in a country that forces you to drive 10 km’s out of your way to turn around if you make a mistake like that.  So, good on you BC.  At least you got that one figured out.

#4 – Screwing in my own lightbulb

It’s been handy having someone on call, at any time, to take care of whatever needed taking care of in our villa.  I don’t mean like in Canada when you call the mechanic in a rental and they give you some lame time between 8am and 6pm 3 days from now.  I send an email, or give a call and they are there in an hour, fixing my table, hanging my pictures, changing my lightbulbs.  It’s amazing, I don’t know why I think I’m not going to miss this.  At the same time, I like to exercise my independence while I’m still capable of doing that.  I also think this mentality really feeds into the entitlement issues here.  There are a lot of people here who could not function without service like this.  They demand and expect this type of service.  These people would not survive for very long outside of this bubble of the UAE.

#3 – Paddling a canoe

I’m sure I could have got myself over to the boat club and gone for a paddle up the beach on whatever I wanted to pay for, but it’s not the same.  There’s a great atmosphere when you’re sitting on a lake, surrounded by woods, paddling a canoe.  It’s peaceful, serene.  Don’t think there are many places like that I could have found here.

#2 – Consignment Stores

Clothes are relatively cheap here, depending on what stores you’re shopping in.  I couldn’t ever get into the groove of shopping in many of the stores here.  The one consignment store I did manage to find was a factory filled with dumped goods. You really have to have  vision to see the potential of items in this place.  The clothing section, on an upper floor, was literally a pile of clothes that you climbed through.  Value Village I missed your multitude of selection in brands, styles, genders.  You are my one stop shop, where I don’t have to worry about how fast the kids will outgrow or ruin the clothes.  Where I don’t get those feelings of buyer’s remorse.  I can’t wait to replenshish my wardrobe.

#1 – Changing Seasons

Who knew living in a perpetual summer could be a bit of a downer.  I found myself getting a bit teary eyed and homesick several months ago when I came across some beautiful scenic fall landscape photographs.  Leaves fall all year round here, but the trees don’t change colours like they do back home.  The trees here stay green, and the old leaves just turn brown and fall off.  Raking leaves all year round really isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.

Bonus – Light switches

The light switch in our bedroom drives me nuts.  Maybe it’s just one of the many quirks of the poor layout of our villa, because it just doesn’t make sense.  We have to open our door completely and walk into the room before turning on the light.  Light switches for washrooms are typically located outside of the washroom here. So our toilet light switch is located on the wall, next to the door to our bedroom, right where I have instinctively, for 2 years, reached to turn on the light to our room.  For the most part.  Light switches at our house in BC are right where they should be.  Yay for good planning!

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

18 Monday Feb 2013

Posted by lcmacdonald in Abu Dahbi, American University of Sharjah, Islam, UAE

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Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Earlier in the week I signed myself and the kids up to participate in a trip to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque for February 16th.  We were sent an itinerary, dress code and instructed to be promptly at the meeting place between 8:30 am and 9:00 am to be on the bus.  9:00 am came and went.  At 9:30 I decided I would wait 10 more minutes and then make other plans for the day.  Just as the time was running down the bus rounded the corner.  I was perturbed at having to sit in the sun waiting when I was told to be early but relieved that I would still be going to see the mosque as planned.

Half an hour into the journey the choruses of “Are we there yet?” began, surely signalling the beginning of a very long day.  As the mosque came into view I thought the kids would be just as amazed as I was.  Kirsten instantly went into teenager meltdown mode and refused to have her picture taken, talk to me, smile, or even sit up while we waited for our group.  A concerned security guard even approached her to be sure she wasn’t sleeping on the doorstep to the mosque.  With our group arriving late for our scheduled tour appointment we only had time for the brief “Reader’s Digest” version of  the tour before afternoon prayers would begin.  As we walked around the mosque the kids spread out, clinging to their friends right until the moment when our tour guide would begin to divulge some interesting facts about the mosque.  Every moment our guide began to open his mouth Jaron was standing on my toes, pawing at me, “Mom, Mom, Mom…when are we leaving?”  There are a lot of pillars, the mosque theme is a garden, and the main prayer room used to contain the largest chandelier in the world now it’s just the largest in that mosque.  These were the only tidbits of info I managed to hear.  To find out more interesting facts about the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque click here or here.

A late start to the day meant late everything to follow.  Instead of heading back to the University at 2:00, we arrived at the Abu Dhabi Marina Mall.  The mall is located out on a little (I’m assuming) man made peninsula just past the Emirates Palace Hotel and before you get to the Heritage Village.  Inside there are some fantastic fountains, and a 360 degree viewing platform only 84 meters shy of the Space Needle in Seattle.  We didn’t have much time to explore this mall, only to have some lunch and a little treat before finding the bus.  We aimed for a 3:30 pm departure with a very ambitious 5:00 pm arrival back at AUS that slowly became a 6:30 pm arrival.  When we pulled into AUS Lilli leaned over and said, “I don’t want to get off the bus.”  Ha! Kids.

Looking into the courtyard
Looking into the courtyard
Mosque reflection
Mosque reflection
echoing archways
echoing archways
Glass wall flower decorations.
Glass wall flower decorations.
Closed for prayer time.
Closed for prayer time.
Marina Mall viewing tower. Platform is at 100 meters (84 less than Seattle Space Needle).
Marina Mall viewing tower. Platform is at 100 meters (84 less than Seattle Space Needle).
Chandelier in main prayer hall entrance
Chandelier in main prayer hall entrance
Main prayer hall. One piece of carpet (brought in 9 pieces and took 4 months to complete within the mosque).
Main prayer hall. One piece of carpet (brought in 9 pieces and took 4 months to complete within the mosque).
Closed for prayer time.
Closed for prayer time.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
courtyard mosaic
courtyard mosaic
Looking into the courtyard
Looking into the courtyard
Time to go.
Time to go.
Entrance to main prayer hall
Entrance to main prayer hall
Main prayer hall. One piece of carpet (brought in 9 pieces and took 4 months to complete within the mosque).
Main prayer hall. One piece of carpet (brought in 9 pieces and took 4 months to complete within the mosque).
Entrance to main prayer hall
Entrance to main prayer hall
Walking across the courtyard.
Walking across the courtyard.
Marina Mall viewing tower. Platform is at 100 meters (84 less than Seattle Space Needle).
Marina Mall viewing tower. Platform is at 100 meters (84 less than Seattle Space Needle).
courtyard mosaic
courtyard mosaic
Marina Mall
Marina Mall
Frozen Yogurt Factory treat at Marina Mall.
Frozen Yogurt Factory treat at Marina Mall.
Marina Mall
Marina Mall
Colorful fountain at Marina Mall
Colorful fountain at Marina Mall
Marina mall decor
Marina mall decor

Staycation

19 Saturday Jan 2013

Posted by jrwmacdonald in American University of Sharjah, Dubai, Living, UAE

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I’m not sure when my last post was… likely nearly a month ago.  This is a sure sign of the normality life has taken on here.  I believe we are all doing very well.  Kirsten had a real bout of serious homesickness last Friday but she seems to have rallied very well.  There are some hard lessons to learn in life but I’m thrilled with how Kirsten internalizes, contemplates and then comes to a healthy approach to difficult situations.

Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he’s been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to just be people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old time rail journey…delays…sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride. — Jenkin Lloyd Jones

I actually wrote the remainder of this post just after the Christmas week.  I hope to get back into the writing routine.

AUS provides its employees Christmas day and New Years Day off.  I’ve been so used to having those weeks off that I booked Christmas week off.  That week is drawing to an end.  What did we do with our time?  Everything.  We thought about heading into Oman and doing some camping.  We have Salalah on our list of destinations to see but I’d like to go when we can get another family or two to join us.  So instead we opted for a staycation!

On the 18th we were to pick up our new to us car.  We bought the Honda CRV that we

Good bye new car.

Good bye new car.

borrowed for our trip to Oman.  Sadly the day we were scheduled to get the car it broke down!  Not a good omen.  The car was stalling.  We had it towed to Honda but they couldn’t find anythign wrong with it after they did some kind of computer calibration.  So far it has been running fine and taken us all over Dubai this Christmas week.  I’m hopeful that it will still be a good vehicle for us. The good news is that I’m not making any kind of payments on this thing.

On Saturday the 22nd we went shopping at Dubai Mall where we met up with our new friends the Villegas family.  This family have three kids (12, 8 and 7 – two girls and a boy).   Kirsten and Kiana, the oldest, are already fast friends.  Later in the day we met up with them and more friends at a free beach in Jumeria. We had a great time digging

Lilli revelling in shell treasure

Lilli revelling in shell treasure

in the sand.  The beach was a treasure trove of shells.  It was fun to watch people parasailing up and down the beach too. The wind made it a little too cool for any serious swimming.

On the 23rd we took the family to DreamLand Aqua park.  It was a quiet day at the park and we practically had the whole place to ourselves.  Kirsten went there with her youth group when we first got here – she recently posted about that trip.  We thought it would be fun to experience it as a family.  Lisa took some great pictures and posted them to Facebook.  Here they are in all their glory for those not connected to Facebook.

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The 24th found us at the Mall of the Emirates with the intention to check out Ski Dubai.  It was crazy busy so we decided instead to do some shopping and try for a quieter day.  That evening we went to dinner at our friends the Anderson’s with the Palmers and Johnsons.  The kids put on a nativity scene and we enjoyed each others company.  That night after the kids were tucked in Lisa and I put up a Christmas tree and brought out the stockings.  The kids were delightedly surprised in the morning when they came down the stairs.

Christmas afternoon we joined our friends (The Ashills and several others) at the Raddison Blu hotel in Deira.  They put on an excellent Christmas brunch.  There are several restaurants on the same floor of the hotel that band together to provide an enormous smorgasbord.  We had everything from traditional American style Christmas dinner to sushi, Indian, Italian and Mexican cuisine.  We ate from noon till after 4 and then rolled ourselves out of the building and on home to a great nap.

Boxing Day found us back at the Mall of the Emirates with the Anderson’s to experience Ski Dubai.  As soon as we walked into that giant refrigerator and I could see my breath I

It looks like a picture but it is an unaltered picture

It looks like a painting but this is an unaltered photo from the Mall of the Emirates

new we had made a mistake.  I hate the cold.  The crappy boots they gave me were hurting my feet and the gloves were inadequate.  We went down the little bobsled run (Lisa smashed both her knees into the icy sides of the run).  The snow was all rotten and the sled hill was itty bitty and crowded.  We didn’t bother paying for skiing and just hung out in the snow park.  The sledding was perfect for Jaron and he had a great time for the hour and a half we stuck it out.  Though, he didn’t complain when the girls declared it was far too cold (-2) and we had to go.  We enjoyed hot chocolate and cinnamon buns at Cinnabon afterward.

The 27th took Lisa and I to Mirdif City Centre Mall for iFly Dubai.  We followed that up with dinner at the food court and a show, Jack Reacher.  The movie was entertaining but disappointing.  I suspect the book it is based on is much better.  The opening scene was almost too much for me to handle.

iFly Dubai was fun but I am sore today.  You are not in the wind tunnel long, maybe 30

ready for the wind tunnel

ready for the wind tunnel

seconds each of two times, but it is a full body workout.  I’m not sure it was enough of a thrill to have me go back often.  I’d like it best if they’d just stick me in their for 15 minutes at a time to figure out how to do all the acrobatics.  I can’t imagine what that would cost…

Today we went to church and that was just what the doctor ordered both for my back and my wallet.  This week has been a whirlwind tour of theme park entertainment.  I think I may have my fill.  Except I still want to check out Ferrari World, the top of the Burg Kalifa and as a big fan of water slides I think we will have to get to all the water parks here (there are quite a few).  Lisa ordered new tents from the states and they should be here early next week.  Just a few more pieces of equipment and we’ll be fully outfitted for some real adventure.

Tomorrow is Jaron’s 7th birthday.  We are having a BBQ party at Safa Park. We bought him a bike!  I’m so excited for him.  I can hardly believe he is 7 years old.  May I never forget to thank God daily for the blessings that are my wonderful children.

And back to the present…

Turns out Jaron’s party was super fun.  A water fight in the park and the bike went over

Jaron scoping out his new bike

Jaron scoping out his new bike

very well.  I think he is on it every day.  The benefit of being in a gated community means he can park the bike in front of the house without much fear of someone wondering off with it.  Of course, the problem with buying him a bike is the expectation that we buy bikes for the girls come their birthdays.  I want a bike too!  The campus wellness centre is holding their first duathlon in March and I want to participate…  Now where to steal the money from the budget for a bike for me.

American University of Sharjah Parks

10 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by frogmatador in American University of Sharjah, Living

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Okay there are lots of parks on campus.  A few days ago I went around to some of the parks around the University and took pictures.  I got lots!  We play on all of them.  Some have monkey bars and big slides.  There are some that have tunnels.  My favourite park is the K block.  Thats the park by my house.  The other parks are ok.  These are some pictures of K block park.

Sitting round the toilet bowl
Swimming in the toilet bowl
Kirsten at the entrance to Dreamland

Sitting round the toilet bowl

 

Here’s some of B block pool side park.

K block – Pathways

K block – benches
K block – parking, shade, benches

K block – swings
K block – trash cans

K block park – green space

Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain…

11 Tuesday Dec 2012

Posted by jrwmacdonald in American University of Sharjah, UAE

≈ 2 Comments

This entry is a bit delayed from my usual schedule of posts.  I say usual like I’ve been doing this for years but as it turns out today is the 3 month mark.  This means I’ve passed my probationary period! Hurray!  I was never really worried and so its more of a milestone than anything significant.  Well, the banks here will give me a loan now… something I plan on never ever doing.  My mother in-law would be so proud.

A couple weeks ago…  just before UAE National Day actually, it rained here.  I take it that rain like we had is pretty rare.  My colleagues kept telling me that the last time we had rain like this it was over two years ago.  To be fair it wasn’t more than some of the big storms back home.  Yet, as I predicted in this earlier post, the lack of drainage made things super interesting.  The kids went bananas.

The rain filled up every round about and parking lots became giant lakes.  I was glad to see that everyones’ kids, not just mine, made their way outside to do what every kid what guttersought to do in a giant rain storm – get totally soaking wet.  The parking lot in Q block, where the Palmers live incidentally was a fabulous lake – complete with standard issue garbage bins and oily car spots.  Our kids went swimming and for the first time in the UAE came home cold.  A warm shower cured them right away.

The lack of rain here appears to mean that the roof of a building is really more of a shade device and being water repellent is as good as water tight.  I was shocked at the buckets collecting water from leaky roofs in multiple places on campus.  I was more than a little annoyed though when our living room ended up with several gallons of water on the floor.  In our case the water came down the outside of a drain pipe that runs between our home and the neighbours (in the wall) and then found its way through some cracks in the foundation behind our television.  Our giant fleece blanket just happened to be folded up on the floor next to the couch and kindly soaked up the majority of the water… No way that blanket can fit in our little European washing machine though.  Once we have a car we’ll take it off to a laundry someplace.

The maintenance team got to work right away and fixed the leak.  I’m a fan of not having to get up on a leaky roof.  They seem to have fixed the problem… at least for the next couple years when it rains again.




 








Settling In

25 Sunday Nov 2012

Posted by jrwmacdonald in American University of Sharjah, Living

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

campus wellness, crossfit, healthy-living

Well for once this may be a short post.  Less to say must mean that we really are beginning to settle in.  Life has taken on a comfortable routine and we can look forward to predictable days.  That sounds horrible but a little continuity can be good too.

We have been enjoying the excellent fitness and “wellness” services offered faculty and staff here at AUS.  The university has hired half a dozen or more young British folks who run the campus wellness centre.  This means Jaron and Lilli participate in Football, Kirsten takes a Hula class and we all enjoy fun events like monthly fun runs and other exciting challenges.  The Wellness Centre also runs the Epicentre, youth centre, that Jaron wrote about earlier.

Just this week Lisa and I are playing in a faculty/staff softball tournament.  We won tonight 13 to 7.  On Saturday I participated in a “Crossfit Challenge.”  Jaron had a good time cheering me on as I did three continuous  sets of “battling rope,” “clean and press” and plyo squats in a race against the clock.  The winner managed the whole thing in just under 4 and a half minutes.  I think my last set of 15 Clean and Press (only 25lbs) took that long.  I kinda felt like puking when I was done and I’m a little sore today.  It was fun though… no really it was.  Jaron was really excited when they gave him a medal for best cheering – hmm I wonder where he gets that from.

The facilities here are great.  The university has an olympic size pool and faculty and staff get free access to it too.  I’ve been working on my front crawl and managed 2 kilometres the other day.  If only I could afford a nice bike there may be a triathlon in my future.

There really is no excuse to be out of shape when working for the American University of Sharjah.  Okay maybe the cheap and extremely accessible fast food (everyone delivers) and the ridiculously cheap Coca Cola.  Yes, those are good excuses… right?

“Restrictions”

20 Tuesday Nov 2012

Posted by lcmacdonald in American University of Sharjah, Dubai, Living, Sharjah, Traveling, UAE

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cars, clothing choice, liquor license, transportation

I don’t think we’ve really talked about dress code much, and yet it was the topic of a LOT of discussion before coming to the UAE.  Most of the concern was more for my well being.  The popular question involving what my restrictions would be as far as clothing choice.  Though I tried my best to inform my friends and family with the little information I was able to research, I can now tell you with certainty that my personal dress is not any more restricted than it was while living in Canada.  I should make it clear that the religion I choose to follow has standards, similar to the requirements here, for modest wear so the transition has been easy.  Check out this link for more discussion about dress code for women and men in Dubai.

The other hot topic, was the difficulty with getting alcohol.  I don’t drink.  Problem solved.  For any of my friends who are looking for a party trip, think Amsterdam or Mexico or some other “party” destination.  Though it is possible to acquire a “liquor license” to purchase alcohol and transport it, the amount a paperwork, stamps and fees likely involved would not be worth the effort.

Driving in the UAE was another interesting discussion we had prior to coming to the Middle East.  In Canada, we had recently chosen to only drive 6 months in a year.  I know you’re thinking the winter months, but no we only drove during the summer months.  Obvious reasons for doing this are as follows: people drive, and park stupid in the winter; cleaning snow off a cold vehicle; having the car warm up just as you get to your destination; icy roads; buses drop you off at the door (at least wherever we needed to go).  We thought if we could go carless during Canadian winter, we could go carless in the Middle East.  In case you don’t know, the Middle East is in the DESERT.  I don’t know why we thought +50C would be easier to handle than -50C.  In -50C you can put on more clothing, walk faster, catch a bus. In +50 your shoes melt to the pavement the moment you’re out the door, imprisoning you in the glaring sun only to melt away to nothing.  Did I mention that happens the moment you step out the door?  There is no running to your car to turn on the A/C, because the exact opposite happens that you would expect in -50C temperatures.  The interior is likely too hot to sit in (scalding if you have a leather interior), A/C takes just as long to cool down your car as it would take to heat it up in colder temps.  Yet taking off all your clothes (opposed to overdressing) and walking around naked is not an option, in fact it’s illegal, not to mention dangerous for your health (you know, skin cancer and all that jazz).

Getting to the actual driving part.  We had read many forums on this topic discussing the craziness that takes place on the roads here.  You really have no idea until you experience it.  It’s not just the crazy drivers (though they definitely contribute to the stress) but stop signs, yields and left turns are a rare site here, as well as stop lights.  The system here thrives on U-turns, and round-a-bouts.  This makes straight shot routes unheard of, and can be devastating if you miss your exit adding minutes even hours to your trip.  Sometimes this can lead to more of a push your self in front kind of thing to move yourself across the 4 or 6 lane highway at crazy speeds.  If you’re not “on the ball” you’ll find yourself at the back of the line, or getting passed by.  This seems a common theme in this culture.  I only say that because we’ve been slow to move a head in check-out lines and lost our place.  That’s not to say anyone is rude about it, there isn’t any shoving involved, just more of a “snooze you lose” notion. Even when we are constantly getting honked at on the road, we have had to change our thinking.  They honk to let you know where they are on the road, or that they have noticed an opening you haven’t, or that the light changed 2 seconds ago.  If only we could instantly send our intentions digitally so that others might understand our motives.  Where’s the app for that!?

So James has only been driving for the last month off and on.  To get a license as a Canadian you only need a valid driver’s license from your country of origin, copy of residence visa, two photos, a letter (in arabic) from your sponsor (employer or spouse), copy of local ID, eye exam, blood test, an application for a local driver’s license in arabic (mostly) and AED 560 ($152 CA).  We originally thought I would need “permission” to drive from James, but it turns out he had to get permission too (from his employer).  Really this process isn’t too bad.  When James did it, he had everything on him and the whole thing took 45 minutes to hand in.  Others are not so lucky, and are required to take a driving exam here.  I’ve heard from a few people that it takes several attempts, sometimes more to pass the exam.  Of course, that requires repeated costs in money and time.

The most obvious restriction for me, and I’m sure James, right now is the language.  Though most communication is in English, the quality of English is lacking.  It’s one thing to have the ability to understand English then it is to actually speak it.  Most other people speak Arabic but not always.  As a family, we are all enrolled in an Arabic class of sorts (James through work, me and the kids through K12 icademy) so we’re trying to help ourselves out in this area, but it is slow going.  There are many different dialects to this language, and many different ways to say or spell the same thing.  There are also many Indian, Filipino and Asian folks here as well all in the same boat as us, trying to get around, work and learn the common languages.  Being in such a diverse community, I’m embarrassed to say, I sometimes cannot notice the subtle differences that may clue me in to what language I should be attempting to speak, or when practicing my Arabic might be the best choice for communication.  I hope my mind will open as we settle in further to our surroundings.  There have been many dropped calls on the phone, or frustrated taxi drivers due to our handicapped methods of communication I can only continue to learn and hope that some of it sinks in enough to get me around.

At the other end of the spectrum I would just like to make note of one of the biggest non-restrictions we have here.  Eating out, has turned to eating in.  Every fast food place here delivers.  You can order right on line, or view the menu and call in your order.  This has been fantastic so far as we have had difficulty keeping our fridge and cupboards stocked with familiar foods.  This has also been detrimental to all the progress we made those last few months in Canada eating at home, and eating healthier.  Its not impossible to do that here, but we are definitely needing to relearn some things now that we’re here.  Sorry Darci, this has been the biggest nemesis to me keeping my goals.

The Epicenter

08 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by dashofdynamite in American University of Sharjah

≈ 3 Comments

If you go out my front door and turn left and walk straight for a little way following the sidewalk and turn at the cross walk you will arrive at the gate to the Epicenter.  What is the Epicenter you ask? The Epicenter is a little building that was built for all the kids who live at the university.  When you go inside you have to sign in.  You can also sign up to climb on the indoor climbing wall.  The climbing wall is my favourite part of the whole Epicenter.

There is more than a climbing wall in the Epicenter.  There is a craft area where you can colour and paint and even draw on the whiteboard.  There is a library where you can do quiet things like read books, play chess and Battleship and build with blocks.  There is a chess club too and I am a member.  The chess club has only met once but I won my first game.  The Epicenter also has a ping pong table, air hockey table, Foosball table and a pool table.  There is an Xbox and Wii too.  My favourite Wii game is Mario Cart and my favourite Xbox game is football (soccer).  There is even a kitchen in the Epicenter where they have classes to learn how to cook.  There is a skate park for roller blading, skateboarding and biking.  There is a theatre room and they say that soon we will have movie nights.  There is even a music room with a piano.

We go to the Epicenter almost everyday.  My football coach is one of the people who runs the Epicenter.  Parents can visit but they don’t encourage the parents to stay.  The Epicenter is for kids.  I got a cool Epicenter t-shirt and an ID card with my picture on it.  I’ve made lots of friends there.  The Epicenter just opened a few weeks after we got here.  I think we are really lucky.  I have included some pictures of the Epicenter here.  I bet all my friends back home would have lots of fun here too.

A note from dad: The wall is not high enough for ropes but it is a bit high for a little guy like Jaron to fall from – even if it is to a padded mat.  One of the staff was giving parents a tour and when they asked about little kids on the wall the staff said the little ones are too afraid to go that high but then pointing at Jaron said “except that one.” When Jaron gets on the wall he goes right to the top and when its time to get down he just falls off without hesitation.  The others his age don’t go far and have a hard time jumping down.  The kid has the fear centre of his brain turned off.

A Matter of Culture

05 Friday Oct 2012

Posted by jrwmacdonald in American University of Sharjah, UAE

≈ 2 Comments

I’ve been debating how to write this post.  There are some definite cultural differences between here and Canada.  Though what constitutes a cultural difference and what is perhaps a local or individual oddity is difficult to say.  I’ve had a significant number of what I consider strange experiences interacting with people in just the last few weeks.  Clearly I do not have the data required to paint generalizations but the experiences do shape my perspective.

I’ve heard from many people here, specifically expatriates, that middle eastern people do not like to ask for help and will not admit when they don’t know something.  Frankly, I think that applies to most people.  However, a couple weeks ago the whole family piled into a taxi cab to go to church.  The last time we went to church we had the help of a friend who speaks fluent Arabic.  This week we were off on our own.  That same friend forwarded us a map that clearly outlined the route from the university to the church.  So with map in hand we hired a taxi.  I showed the map to our driver and off we went.  For the most part the route to church is very simple: you get out on the highway and go straight for some kilometres and then pull into a subdivision where things get a bit more complicated.  You need to take several turns in a short distance before you get to the villa the church meets in.  All the villas in this neighbourhood look quite similar.  Soon our driver was driving aimlessly up and down streets.  I kept asking the driver if we were on a particular street while pointing to the map.  “Yes sir, yes thats where we are.”

After some time driving, in clearly the wrong direction, I had to stop believing that the driver had any idea where he was.  What a dilemma.  I didn’t have the address of the church; not that an address would help here.  I’ve filled out many forms that ask for your “address.” They generally just ask you to describe the location and surrounding landmarks.  I was by this time thoroughly turned around so if I got out of the cab there was no way of knowing which way to go on foot – surely we were within walking distance.  I likely would have piled everyone out of the cab and worked it out but it was 45 degrees celsius outside.  My brain melts at 30 degrees.  I had one phone number of a member of the church on my cell phone, the Andersons.  We rang them and they answered.  They were also in the midst of driving to church.  I described our location as best I could and within a few short moments they found us and we were able to follow them the rest of the way.  We were close but thoroughly turned around.

A few more experiences like that and we started looking for a car to rent.  I can get lost all by myself now but without a meter running, thank you very much.

There are many options for renting, leasing or buying a vehicle in the UAE I’ve discovered.  Eventually we may buy but for now we will rent from month to month.  While shopping around I came across Dollar Rentals.  Earlier in the week I got a list of companies that give discounts to university employees.  Dollar was listed there with a claim that they offered 45% off on any rental in the UAE to AUS faculty and staff.  45% off seemed a little too good to be true.  I went to their website to checkout the regular prices.  I found that I could get a car for a little over 2000 dirhams a month with full insurance coverage.  One thousand dirhams is only 270 dollars.  With 45% off I was looking at just over 300$.  Skeptical, I called the company.  I began the conversation by asking if what I read was true, does Dollar give a 45% discount to any rental for AUS staff?  They assured me that, yes, that was the deal.

The agent took my details and the type of car I wanted.  I gave her the model I had looked up on the website.  She quoted me the price, 2600$.  I asked if that was with the 45% discount. Yes, of course it was.  Oh but it gets better.  This was without insurance.  Insurance would be an extra 400 dirham.  I thanked her for her time but declined the offer.  Later I had Lisa call to see if she would get the same “deal” but this time I had her share with the agent the price listed on the website.  The 45% doesn’t apply to online pricing.  So I’ve learned that AUS staff pay a 45% markup from those who can use a computer.

We did rent a vehicle but not from Dollar.  We are driving a 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer.  It is a terrible, gutless car but I drove to church today.  I didn’t even get lost.  Oh and I pay 1850 dirham a month.

Negotiation seems a standard part of the culture here.  Everyone wants a good deal including the seller.  Salesmen seem to always start with “This is 1000 dirham… but for you 950 dirham.” For the uninitiated thats where it ends but for the savvy thats just the preliminary.  Lisa told me last night how the her friend talked a salesmen down several thousand dirham on a bracelet she wanted.  What started at several thousand dirham she walked off with for 175.  Her husband jokes had she stayed five more minutes she’d have gotten it for free.

University students at home can be pretty self-centred (who isn’t self-centered at 19) but this next experience shocked me.  Lilli and I went to a piano recital earlier this week by Veronika Ilinskaya.  She is a talented classical pianist.  During the show, however, there was a group of university students just down from us.  At one point one of them began talking on his phone.  Then a few moments later he began listening to his iPod.  His music was just loud enough for me to hear.  I could hardly believe what I was seeing, hearing.  I can only imagine that he was attending this recital for a course or some other compulsory reason.  During an interlude I got up and asked him quietly to turn off the music.  Thankfully he did seem genuinely abashed and after his apology I didn’t hear any more from him.  So on the one hand quite inconsiderate but on the other deferential when called out.  I know quite a few young men that would just have likely punched me in the nose or at least given a disrespectful retort.

I have thought quite a bit about that young man and the absurdity of listening to one’s iPod in the middle of a master musical performance.  I wonder if I could observe myself from a distance if I would not be occasionally appalled at my own thoughtlessness?  How many truly exceptional experiences might I miss because I am focused on mediocrity?

We’ve only been here a few weeks but I’ve had dozens of interactions like these.  It has been an interesting education in inter-personal navigation.  Whether some of these experiences are rooted in the culture here or are just aberrations is difficult to say but it has been fun.  Something that does clearly appear to be cultural is the high standard of personal grooming.  Sorry my North American friends but we are a bunch of slobs.  By and large middle eastern people (at least in this small part of it) are very well groomed.  Maybe some of that will rub off on my children… I may be a lost cause.

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