Today a 6.2 earthquake hit Iran around 3:00ish and aftershocks were felt in Dubai and other northern UAE areas measuring around 4.8. Lisa was at the Dubai Community Theatre with Kaleigh and Ashlyn waiting on their first drama lesson to start. Dwayne was at work in Dubai's Internet City. We were all completely oblivious to the aftershocks that evidently forced evacuations of thousands of people from Dubai's high rises and office buildings here! Iran is very susceptible to earthquakes and they happen frequently there...just not to this magnitude. It's amazing that Dubai doesn't get the aftershocks more often...we are so close to Iran...barely a stone's throw! Maybe a little too close...
Just wanted to say that everyone here is fine. Ignorance IS bliss, after all!
9.10.2008
9.04.2008
Dubai Heat Jokes
You know...it's so hot here that you really have to have a sense of humor about it. While we could have made up most of these based on experience, a few of them came from a Phoenix, Arizona jokester. Seems as though Phoenix and Dubai have a lot in common...weather wise!
90% of the below statements are actually true and we have experienced them!
The potatoes cook underground, and all you have to do to have lunch is to pull one out and add butter, salt and pepper.
It is normal to take a soft-cooler bag to the grocery store for your cold/frozen items.
Long sleeves actually do make sense in the sun.
The trees are whistling for the dogs.
You no longer associate bridges with water.
You can say 113 degrees without fainting.
You can make instant sun tea.
You learn that a seat belt makes a pretty good branding iron.
The temperature drops below 95, you feel a bit chilly.
Even the water in the toilet is hot.
You would give anything to be able to splash cold water on your face. Can't get it from the faucet!
The 4 seasons are: tolerable, hot, really hot, and ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!!
You discover that during June - September, it takes only 2 fingers to drive your car.
You discover that you can get a sunburn through your car window. Even at maximum legal tinting.
You notice the best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.
Hot water now comes out of both taps. You have hot water and hotter water.
It's noon in July, kids are on summer vacation, and not one person is out on the streets.
You actually burn your hand opening the car door.
If the swimming pool doesn't have a cooler, you don't want to get in it.
You break a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 a.m. before work.
No one would dream of putting vinyl upholstery in a car or not having air conditioning because you would be seriously burned or possibly die.
You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.
Your children ask what that wet stuff is on the windshield because they don't remember rain.
You never check the weather status...because it is always the same. Except for that rain on the windshield during January.
9.01.2008
Ramadan
Today marks the first day of Ramadan for Muslims around the world. For those of us who live in a Muslim country, it impacts us too. Each Muslim country treats non-Muslims differently - - as far as what is expected of us during Ramadan. Some do not expect us to fast since we do not observe the Holiday. In the United Arab Emirates, non-Muslims must observe the fasting schedule in public. Wherever you are, there are aspects of Ramadan that you can celebrate as well, whether you are Muslim or not.
In Dubai, the next month for Muslims and non-Muslims alike can be a tough one. With temperatures soaring into the 110-115 degree range (43-47 C), frequent intake of water is essential. During Ramadan, no one (including us) is allowed to eat, drink, chew gum, etc. in public from dawn until sunset.
This means very few restaurants are open and most businesses have reduced working hours. The restaurants that are open offer take-away (take-out) only. But don't eat that meal in your car...you can get arrested. You must wait (for non-Muslims) until you are in your own home before eating. Many non-Muslim women typically have bottles of water in their purses which can be consumed in a dressing room or other "private" area such as a restroom stall. Also, if you purchase food items at a store, you must carry them in a bag that does not show the contents. Last year, Lisa was completely unaware of this rule and was guilty of walking across the street with a bottle of Diet Pepsi. She noticed the stares of some passersby and Dwayne graciously educated her on the "rule." Having this bottle of uncovered Diet Pepsi is a temptation to Muslims and is also a sign of disrespect.
Now, the above rules regarding eating and drinking do not affect children. While age ranges vary, most Muslims consider the age of 10 as the age when they can start fasting.
Many non-Muslims here use this month as a period in which they try to purify themselves physically and emotionally - whether through diet, prayer, or other means. Many Christian churches around the world have a specified prayer schedule (including ours) of certain things to focus on during this month.
Lisa has chosen to give up all sweets this month...even mints and juices. Gum is still on the menu, however. Just not in public.
Just for fun...here are some Ramadan ads. It's commercialized, also.
Burger King: http://www.thedubailife.com/images/RamadanBK.jpg
Coke: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2353/2085301152_3177151086.jpg?v=0
Lexus: http://www.thedubailife.com/images/ramadan_ad_lexus.jpg
McDonald's: http://www.thedubailife.com/images/macramadanad.jpg
Pepsi: http://smile93.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/pepsi-001.JPG
In Dubai, the next month for Muslims and non-Muslims alike can be a tough one. With temperatures soaring into the 110-115 degree range (43-47 C), frequent intake of water is essential. During Ramadan, no one (including us) is allowed to eat, drink, chew gum, etc. in public from dawn until sunset.
This means very few restaurants are open and most businesses have reduced working hours. The restaurants that are open offer take-away (take-out) only. But don't eat that meal in your car...you can get arrested. You must wait (for non-Muslims) until you are in your own home before eating. Many non-Muslim women typically have bottles of water in their purses which can be consumed in a dressing room or other "private" area such as a restroom stall. Also, if you purchase food items at a store, you must carry them in a bag that does not show the contents. Last year, Lisa was completely unaware of this rule and was guilty of walking across the street with a bottle of Diet Pepsi. She noticed the stares of some passersby and Dwayne graciously educated her on the "rule." Having this bottle of uncovered Diet Pepsi is a temptation to Muslims and is also a sign of disrespect.
Now, the above rules regarding eating and drinking do not affect children. While age ranges vary, most Muslims consider the age of 10 as the age when they can start fasting.
Many non-Muslims here use this month as a period in which they try to purify themselves physically and emotionally - whether through diet, prayer, or other means. Many Christian churches around the world have a specified prayer schedule (including ours) of certain things to focus on during this month.
Lisa has chosen to give up all sweets this month...even mints and juices. Gum is still on the menu, however. Just not in public.
Just for fun...here are some Ramadan ads. It's commercialized, also.
Burger King: http://www.thedubailife.com/images/RamadanBK.jpg
Coke: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2353/2085301152_3177151086.jpg?v=0
Lexus: http://www.thedubailife.com/images/ramadan_ad_lexus.jpg
McDonald's: http://www.thedubailife.com/images/macramadanad.jpg
Pepsi: http://smile93.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/pepsi-001.JPG
8.29.2008
Why did God make sand, Mommy?
Why do apples have juice in them?
Why are the guinea pigs so soft?
Why did God make the big trucks so slow?
Why is it so hot in Dubai?
Why does Ms. Cabbie not live here anymore?
Why why why...
These are just some of the questions posed by Ashlyn this week...usually on the way to school as
These are just some of the questions posed by Ashlyn this week...usually on the way to school as
she is observing what is going on around her. We just love answering these questions...doing our best to be accurate and creative when necessary! This is how our children learn...by asking and watching and doing. They watch everything we do. Everything! It's only when you are observing your own children that you become aware of some of your own habits!!
For example, Lisa has become aware of her own somewhat obsessive need for organization when she watched Ashlyn line up her Christmas stocking candy on the floor. The scary thing was...Lisa actually appreciated what Ashlyn was doing. Kaleigh dumped hers out in a big pile on the floor (like most people would do) and Ashlyn wanted to organize it for her. Ha ha! Kaleigh has Dwayne's tv-watching habit. It's not that she watches a lot of tv...because we really limit it. It's just that when she does watch it...she is unable to hear anything that you say to her because she becomes a "part" of the program...just like her Daddy. ;)
8.23.2008
Dubai Dolphinarium
Today we went to the Dubai Dolphinarium. Lisa was honestly a bit skeptical about the quality of the show and the condition of the animals. These reservations were quickly shattered as we entered the facility. While it's certainly not the size of SeaWorld (just wait...someday it will be...we are sure!) yet, it was a fabulous arena for the three dolphins that perform and the four seals. The dolphin trainers obviously know what they are doing because the show was simply amazing! It was 45 minutes of jumping, dancing, singing, leaping, and ball-throwing/catching dolphins and seals. If you live in Dubai, this is a must see show for animal lovers! We had terrific seats (front row) and even were splashed by the dolphins a couple of times. At one point, one of the dolphins actually painted a picture and it was then auctioned off to the audience for a price much higher than we wanted to pay!! All four of us pretty much smiled and laughed throughout the entire show and just loved it. Fabulous.
8.04.2008
London: Day 4 and Ireland: Day 1
Our last morning in London was filled with the very fun activity of re-packing every single suitcase we had…leaving some in London and taking rest to Ireland. High fees for overweight bags forced this action. We had flights booked via RyanAir and evidently almost everyone's bags are considered overweight since their weight limits are fairly light. Lucky for us, our next booked hotel in London allowed us to keep our extra bags (mostly stuff from the US and clothing that we couldn't wear in colder, rainy Ireland) in their luggage room.The flight to Shannon, Ireland was nice enough. We were a little surprised by the “open seating” aspect of the flight. I
t basically means first come…first served on seats. Odd but it seemed to work. Also, if you wanted a beverage (even non-alcoholic) or snack on the plane...you had to pay for it. Not that you really need a drink or snack during a flight that lasted less than an hour!! We had rented a minivan at the airport and Dwayne bravely drove on the "wrong" side of the road while Lisa navigated. That was an odd feeling...you are both 
driving on the other side of the road AND the steering wheel is on the right side of the car. We made it safely to our Bed and Breakfast...the Ashgrove House. It was absolutely lovely and was located on a road that led to the Bunratty Castle and Durty Nellie's. If you ever want to visit the Irish countryside and see the "real" Ireland...stay at this B&B. We had one of the best dinners ever at Durty Nellie’s that night and even took a horse-drawn carriage ride around the Bunratty Castle area.
t basically means first come…first served on seats. Odd but it seemed to work. Also, if you wanted a beverage (even non-alcoholic) or snack on the plane...you had to pay for it. Not that you really need a drink or snack during a flight that lasted less than an hour!! We had rented a minivan at the airport and Dwayne bravely drove on the "wrong" side of the road while Lisa navigated. That was an odd feeling...you are both 
driving on the other side of the road AND the steering wheel is on the right side of the car. We made it safely to our Bed and Breakfast...the Ashgrove House. It was absolutely lovely and was located on a road that led to the Bunratty Castle and Durty Nellie's. If you ever want to visit the Irish countryside and see the "real" Ireland...stay at this B&B. We had one of the best dinners ever at Durty Nellie’s that night and even took a horse-drawn carriage ride around the Bunratty Castle area. 8.03.2008
London: Day 3
Our third day started off properly with an audio-guided tour of the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace, a brief break at a local eatery for some fish & chips, then off to Buckingham Palace for our 2008 visit. The tour cha
nges every year, and our 2008 tour was much shorter than the one we took during the summer of 2007. We were able to see how they set the grand ballroom for a State dinner (wow)…everything is measured…but weren’t able to show Nana the Queen’s royal jewels (Lisa’s favorite part of last year’s tour). At the end, Kaleigh and Ashlyn drew a picture for the Queen. Their picture was rolled up into a scroll and the attendant tied a small red ribbon onto each one.
We walked back to hotel through St. James’ Park where a marathon session of pigeon chasing ensued with Ashlyn in hot pursuit of the especially plump and slow British pigeons.
Dwayne and Lisa walked down to Piccadilly Circus to catch dinner at Planet Hollywood. Somehow, we got lost on the way back to the hotel…it was a nice diversion onto a street filled with Cartier, Gucci, D&G, etc. You know...a man's worst nightmare. Not that we actually shopped in these stores...but it was nice to look! It was a easy day all-in-all...trying to show Nana the biggest tourist spots in London...in three days...that's a tall order!
nges every year, and our 2008 tour was much shorter than the one we took during the summer of 2007. We were able to see how they set the grand ballroom for a State dinner (wow)…everything is measured…but weren’t able to show Nana the Queen’s royal jewels (Lisa’s favorite part of last year’s tour). At the end, Kaleigh and Ashlyn drew a picture for the Queen. Their picture was rolled up into a scroll and the attendant tied a small red ribbon onto each one.We walked back to hotel through St. James’ Park where a marathon session of pigeon chasing ensued with Ashlyn in hot pursuit of the especially plump and slow British pigeons.
Dwayne and Lisa walked down to Piccadilly Circus to catch dinner at Planet Hollywood. Somehow, we got lost on the way back to the hotel…it was a nice diversion onto a street filled with Cartier, Gucci, D&G, etc. You know...a man's worst nightmare. Not that we actually shopped in these stores...but it was nice to look! It was a easy day all-in-all...trying to show Nana the biggest tourist spots in London...in three days...that's a tall order!
8.02.2008
London: Day 2
We took an Evan Evans bus tour to Windsor Castle, the town of Windsor, the city of Bath, and Stonehenge. Whirlwind tour may be a better description! It was a lovely way to learn a little bit about each place…say you’ve been there…and make a decision on whether you’d like to invest more time at each place or not. We found out that Nicholas Cage has purchased a villa in Bath and we fell in love with the quaintness and beauty of the area. We visited the Roman Baths…hence the 
name BATH. We were warned not to touch or drink the water as it is not treated. What did we see as we descended down to the baths? People practically taking a bath in the baths. They are exceedingly hot and smell of sulphur and supposedly still have medicinal powers. We bought a small vial of the water to take home and place next to our St. Augustine water instead. Stonehe
nge…wow. Not on a hill like we thought, but still just as magnificent. Stonehenge is far out into the countryside, as you would imagine, but the road passes right next to it. We were shocked to see it just outside our bus window! We parked at the car park and we in such awe of the structures as we approached. The reason why we never take tours is this...yo
u are on someone else's time. We did it this time because we had a lot that we wanted to see in one day and this was the most logical way to do it. We were only left with 40 minutes at Stonehenge and we felt exceedingly rushed. We were able to walk around Stonehenge but didn't have the time to sit and gape and reflect as we had dreamed. We will go back one day and are very thankful we were able to see it, nevertheless!
name BATH. We were warned not to touch or drink the water as it is not treated. What did we see as we descended down to the baths? People practically taking a bath in the baths. They are exceedingly hot and smell of sulphur and supposedly still have medicinal powers. We bought a small vial of the water to take home and place next to our St. Augustine water instead. Stonehe
nge…wow. Not on a hill like we thought, but still just as magnificent. Stonehenge is far out into the countryside, as you would imagine, but the road passes right next to it. We were shocked to see it just outside our bus window! We parked at the car park and we in such awe of the structures as we approached. The reason why we never take tours is this...yo
u are on someone else's time. We did it this time because we had a lot that we wanted to see in one day and this was the most logical way to do it. We were only left with 40 minutes at Stonehenge and we felt exceedingly rushed. We were able to walk around Stonehenge but didn't have the time to sit and gape and reflect as we had dreamed. We will go back one day and are very thankful we were able to see it, nevertheless!8.01.2008
London: Day 1
Well, it is finally time to start our adventure home to Dubai. We are meeting up with Dwayne in London for a few days, then we will all travel to Ireland, back to London for a day, then over to Paris before heading home to Dubai. We met a great family from Charleston SC at the Atlanta Hartsfield Airport. We chatted furiously about Dubai…they had lots of questions and as usual, Lisa enjoyed being a virtual Dubai information officer. Due to mechanical problems (alway
s make you feel confident in the flight, now doesn't it?) and severe weather, our flight left Atlanta at 9:15 pm instead of 6:40 pm. Our 8-hour flight arrived at the Gatwick airport around 10:30 am London time. Instead of settling down for a much needed rest, we headed out for some tourist attractions to get Nana (Dwayne's mom) acclimated to London. We took her over to the London Eye, rode a double decker red bus tour (The Original tour), and finished up our afternoon at the Hard Rock Café (which was good because it was insanely busy every other night we went by there). We stocked up on Hard Rock goodies and continued our “if there’s a Hard Rock..we will come” tradition.
s make you feel confident in the flight, now doesn't it?) and severe weather, our flight left Atlanta at 9:15 pm instead of 6:40 pm. Our 8-hour flight arrived at the Gatwick airport around 10:30 am London time. Instead of settling down for a much needed rest, we headed out for some tourist attractions to get Nana (Dwayne's mom) acclimated to London. We took her over to the London Eye, rode a double decker red bus tour (The Original tour), and finished up our afternoon at the Hard Rock Café (which was good because it was insanely busy every other night we went by there). We stocked up on Hard Rock goodies and continued our “if there’s a Hard Rock..we will come” tradition.7.30.2008
Has it really been a month since the last blog?
Wow...it was definitely an unintended break. Check back soon...there will be lots to talk about!
6.26.2008
You must really be glad...
to be back in Roanoke...we keep hearing! Our family moved to Dubai over a year ago now and when you live in a place that long...that new place becomes a home to you. We are now an expatriate family...a family that is "from" one place but now has a new home, well, as least temporarily (?). It presents quite an emotional quandry at times...where is "home?" The old saying goes that "Home is where you hang your hat."
Now that we (Lisa, Kaleigh and Ashlyn) are "home" for the summer...home means Roanoke, VA. We are obviously happy to be "back" around our family and friends, since we love them very much. We are able to spend a lot of quality face-time with those who want to spend time with us...and that means so much. It's very easy to immerse yourself in the familiar surroundings of where you grew up and sink back into a familiar flow. It's fantastic to feast our eyes on the beauty of the Blue Ridge mountains by glancing out the window or by taking a leisurely drive along the Blue Ridge parkway. Driving in Roanoke is a delight compared to Dubai's hectic-schmectic construction-crazy 12-14 lane highways. No one is trying to cut us off in traffic.
Today, our 4-year old (Ashlyn) said she wanted to go home. To her, home is Dubai. That is the place most active in her memory...the place she knows best. It is where her friends are (well, other than Sam) and it's really all she remembers. Roanoke feels less like home now than it did 14 months ago and it's a perplexing emotion to consider. It is becoming a place to visit...a place in which we no longer live but still have many connections. It's where we are "from," but not where we currently "belong."
Now that we (Lisa, Kaleigh and Ashlyn) are "home" for the summer...home means Roanoke, VA. We are obviously happy to be "back" around our family and friends, since we love them very much. We are able to spend a lot of quality face-time with those who want to spend time with us...and that means so much. It's very easy to immerse yourself in the familiar surroundings of where you grew up and sink back into a familiar flow. It's fantastic to feast our eyes on the beauty of the Blue Ridge mountains by glancing out the window or by taking a leisurely drive along the Blue Ridge parkway. Driving in Roanoke is a delight compared to Dubai's hectic-schmectic construction-crazy 12-14 lane highways. No one is trying to cut us off in traffic.
Today, our 4-year old (Ashlyn) said she wanted to go home. To her, home is Dubai. That is the place most active in her memory...the place she knows best. It is where her friends are (well, other than Sam) and it's really all she remembers. Roanoke feels less like home now than it did 14 months ago and it's a perplexing emotion to consider. It is becoming a place to visit...a place in which we no longer live but still have many connections. It's where we are "from," but not where we currently "belong."
6.17.2008
Dots
Tonight...after tucking our sweet girls into bed, Lisa heard little footsteps pounding down the hall. She looked up to find Ashlyn staring at her with terrified eyes and Kaleigh as her moral support. Ashlyn said there were "dots" on the ceiling and that she was very scared. Lisa's first inclination was to say "everything is okay, Sweetie...now go back to bed." But, Ashlyn genuinely looked terrified so Lisa took her by the hand (with Kaleigh close behind) and got into Ashlyn's bed for an up-close look at these dots. Now, Lisa does believe in supernatural beings and that children's innocence may allow them to see things that adults can't see (angels, etc.) Ashlyn was shaking and said that she just knew something was in the room and was asking Kaleigh to back her up. A gentle thunderstorm started rumbling outside and the pitter patter of raindrops on the rooftop provided a much-needed distraction.
Lisa soon realized after her eyes adjusted to the dark that the dots Ashlyn was seeing actually were dots...three small circles of light caused by a reflection of moonlight on the ceiling fan's brass exterior. She was indeed seeing dots. Even as Lisa explained what the dots were to Ashlyn, her little hand gripped her mommy's arm tighter. Then her fear subsided into peaceful sleep. There is nothing sweeter than a sleeping child...so precious!
Lisa soon realized after her eyes adjusted to the dark that the dots Ashlyn was seeing actually were dots...three small circles of light caused by a reflection of moonlight on the ceiling fan's brass exterior. She was indeed seeing dots. Even as Lisa explained what the dots were to Ashlyn, her little hand gripped her mommy's arm tighter. Then her fear subsided into peaceful sleep. There is nothing sweeter than a sleeping child...so precious!
6.08.2008
Weekly updates
Well, we're fully into the swing of life back in the States. We've joined the Botetourt Athletic Club for the summer, so we will have access to a fantastic outdoor pool as well as all of the fitness equipment and indoor pools. Living in Dubai has changed our lifestyle in that we are much more active in the water, so having pool access was essential! Kaleigh and Ashlyn will begin swimming lessons tomorrow. We're having a cookout (or barbeque for the rest of ya) today for some friends that we haven't been able to see since Christmas and we're really looking forward to it. It seems that we've brought the Dubai heat home with us, as Roanoke has been setting record temperatures almost daily. Temperatures in the upper 30s (celsius) or mid 90s (fahrenheit) don't bother us now and our family can't believe it when we're sitting outside or (gasp!) playing in the heat. Dwayne heads back to the Middle East next weekend, so we're trying to make the most of our time with him here. We've never been apart for 6 weeks before...the longest has been one month.
Dwayne and Lisa caught the Prince Caspian movie and it is fantastic. The girls are begging to see Wall-E. Lisa really loves the Pixar films and even has a collection of all of their shorts, but this particular film isn't looking too promising. We'll just have to go and check it out!
To those of you in Dubai who are reading this, the school year is almost over! We are thinking of you all daily and miss you very much. Soon you'll also be off on your holidays and will get a reprieve from that crazy heat! Please keep in touch over the summer and check in with us here! We love getting your comments and emails!
Dwayne and Lisa caught the Prince Caspian movie and it is fantastic. The girls are begging to see Wall-E. Lisa really loves the Pixar films and even has a collection of all of their shorts, but this particular film isn't looking too promising. We'll just have to go and check it out!
To those of you in Dubai who are reading this, the school year is almost over! We are thinking of you all daily and miss you very much. Soon you'll also be off on your holidays and will get a reprieve from that crazy heat! Please keep in touch over the summer and check in with us here! We love getting your comments and emails!
6.07.2008
Crazy trip home
Have you ever had one of those days where you think, " What ELSE could go wrong?!" Well, we had several days in a row like that! On our last day in Dubai, Dwayne went to the US Embassy to pick up a second passport that he had requested. Well, they mistakenly cancelled his first passport and even put the obligatory punch-holes right through it. This meant he now would have lots of issues getting back to work in Saudi in mid-June (upon return from the US). He was completely disgusted with this situation. We left Dubai at 2:45 am on June 2 and landed in London (Gatwick) about 6-7 hours later. We had about a 3 hour layover there...which is just about perfect when you want to grab a meal, and let the kids run around a bit to get the extra energy out of their legs. When we checked it, they hand-wrote our gate number on our boarding passes and it said Gate 57. Not a problem. We ate, shopped around a bit, and headed down to Gate 57 about 1.5 hours early. We sat there and sat there...just waiting like you do at the airports. Well, the gate still had not opened and it was time for our flight to leave. We didn't question it because when you travel, this kind of thing happens all the time - - flights are late.
Well, Dwayne went up a floor to check the flight boards and it said our flight was at Gate 51! We ran as fast as we could with all of our carry-on luggage to the Gate and upon arrival they would not let us board. We showed them our boarding pass and they said they could understand how we would think it was 57 (because that IS what it said!). We were devastated because that was the only flight to Cincinnati that day. A pretty ambivalent employee escorted us down to retrieve our bags (which had been pulled from the plane) and then took us to ticketing. We had a very unpleasant experience with Delta employees at this airport - - all of whom were either rude or had a "we don't care" attitude with us. We have vowed at this time never to fly Delta again. We ended up having to pay 200.00 USD extra per ticket (x4) to get tickets for the next day. We booked a room at a local hotel and with heavy hearts boarded a train, then a taxi to get there. So, after overcoming the disappointment of being "stuck" in Gatwick, we made the best of it and went out to an area called Crawley Town Centre. The girls made out like Bandits at the Disney Store and we treated ourselves to some yummy comfort food chocolate chip cookies.
The next day, we flew from Gatwick to Cincinnati without delay. The flight was scheduled for about 8 hours and we immediately noticed there were no TVs on the seats...not good news for us! Trust us, having the tvs for Kaleigh and Ashlyn is nice on the looooong flights! But, they survived nicely the old fashioned way with books, coloring, and naps. ;)
We arrived at the Cincinnati airport on June 4 and were happy to be back on American soil. What a cute airport...too! We found a good Mexican restaurant and hunkered down for our meal when the airport made an announcement that we were all going to be EVACUATED for a possible tornado heading our way. Lisa, who has been involved in a tornado situation, was initially panic-stricken but quickly regained composure because the girls got nervous with her. They escorted the elderly and families with children first in a very orderly fashion into the bowels of the Cincinnati airport...even most of the airport employees were saying they had never been down that far. Imagine a dimly lit tunnel with a double-decker conveyor belt on one side of the hall for the luggage. There were hundreds of us down there without any communication. We were released after about 30 minutes. Hats off to the staff at that airport for being patient and kind to all of us.
Even after all of the flights were indefinitely delayed, God apparently had mercy on us because our flight left for Roanoke on time! We just couldn't believe our luck! We were greeted by a hailstorm and a subsequent tornado (another area in Roanoke) upon arrival in our Star City.
Being back in Roanoke has been wonderful so far...the lush green mountains are a literal feast for our desert-weary eyes. Everything is a slower pace for us for now...a much needed break from the sometimes hectic Dubai. We feel as though we have two completely separate lives...which is not necessarily a bad thing! Kaleigh and Ashlyn are enjoying the time with their doggie (Caesar) and being able to play outside (for hours at a time). When we left Dubai, it was at least 110 degrees each day...just too hot for extended playtime! We have noticed that the 90-degree days here are not such a big deal. We are after all...desert people now!!
Well, Dwayne went up a floor to check the flight boards and it said our flight was at Gate 51! We ran as fast as we could with all of our carry-on luggage to the Gate and upon arrival they would not let us board. We showed them our boarding pass and they said they could understand how we would think it was 57 (because that IS what it said!). We were devastated because that was the only flight to Cincinnati that day. A pretty ambivalent employee escorted us down to retrieve our bags (which had been pulled from the plane) and then took us to ticketing. We had a very unpleasant experience with Delta employees at this airport - - all of whom were either rude or had a "we don't care" attitude with us. We have vowed at this time never to fly Delta again. We ended up having to pay 200.00 USD extra per ticket (x4) to get tickets for the next day. We booked a room at a local hotel and with heavy hearts boarded a train, then a taxi to get there. So, after overcoming the disappointment of being "stuck" in Gatwick, we made the best of it and went out to an area called Crawley Town Centre. The girls made out like Bandits at the Disney Store and we treated ourselves to some yummy comfort food chocolate chip cookies.
The next day, we flew from Gatwick to Cincinnati without delay. The flight was scheduled for about 8 hours and we immediately noticed there were no TVs on the seats...not good news for us! Trust us, having the tvs for Kaleigh and Ashlyn is nice on the looooong flights! But, they survived nicely the old fashioned way with books, coloring, and naps. ;)
We arrived at the Cincinnati airport on June 4 and were happy to be back on American soil. What a cute airport...too! We found a good Mexican restaurant and hunkered down for our meal when the airport made an announcement that we were all going to be EVACUATED for a possible tornado heading our way. Lisa, who has been involved in a tornado situation, was initially panic-stricken but quickly regained composure because the girls got nervous with her. They escorted the elderly and families with children first in a very orderly fashion into the bowels of the Cincinnati airport...even most of the airport employees were saying they had never been down that far. Imagine a dimly lit tunnel with a double-decker conveyor belt on one side of the hall for the luggage. There were hundreds of us down there without any communication. We were released after about 30 minutes. Hats off to the staff at that airport for being patient and kind to all of us.
Even after all of the flights were indefinitely delayed, God apparently had mercy on us because our flight left for Roanoke on time! We just couldn't believe our luck! We were greeted by a hailstorm and a subsequent tornado (another area in Roanoke) upon arrival in our Star City.
Being back in Roanoke has been wonderful so far...the lush green mountains are a literal feast for our desert-weary eyes. Everything is a slower pace for us for now...a much needed break from the sometimes hectic Dubai. We feel as though we have two completely separate lives...which is not necessarily a bad thing! Kaleigh and Ashlyn are enjoying the time with their doggie (Caesar) and being able to play outside (for hours at a time). When we left Dubai, it was at least 110 degrees each day...just too hot for extended playtime! We have noticed that the 90-degree days here are not such a big deal. We are after all...desert people now!!
5.30.2008
The end is near...
The end of the school year...that is! The last day of school for Kaleigh and Ashlyn is in mid-June, but we are heading back to the US for our summer break a little early. We are flying home on June 2...taking off around 2:45 am. We fly for about 8 hours to London, then board another 8-hour flight to Cincinnati, and then yet another to Roanoke. It's no small feat to fly back to the US with two little ones...but they are pretty seasoned travelers now and know what to expect. We are packing, cleaning, and spending as much time with our friends as possible before the long break! It's hard to believe that the girls only have 1 more day of school left! Ashlyn will be entering into the first year of Kindergarten in the fall and Kaleigh will now be a "grader"...a first grader! We won't be blogging for a few days (we've already been slow this week), so we'll be back on in Roanoke, VA!
5.27.2008
See Burj al Arab being built
Gulfnews.com had some great photos on their site today of the Burj al Arab being built. Check out the 10 photos here. It is truly an exquisite building and we are so fortunate to be able to see it every day. One day, we'll take out some time (and dirhams) and have the high tea there. Seeing photos of it simply doesn't do it justice. You must see it in person...from the beach and from the air. It's breathtaking!
5.26.2008
Gulf Air gives us a cool mist facial
It was so hot outside in Bahrain (our connection from Athens to Dubai), that the air conditioning was heavily visible on our Gulf Air flight.
5.25.2008
Desert Safari & Tiny Dancers
We recently went out on a desert safari with some friends from Dwayne's office and we had a blast! We all met up at the Habtoor Grand Resort & Spa and loaded up into a minibus. After over an hour on the bus, we arrived at a small middle-of-nowhere minimarket/tacky souvenirs shop where we all eagerly exited the bus and headed in to buy bottled water and snacks
. It was a good thing that we picked up those Pringles because Kaleigh and Ashlyn were starving and the SUVs that would take us into the desert were late...late...late. Like...the sun was going down kind of late. After almost an hour of waiting, our desert rides arrived and we loaded up based on whether or not we wanted an "easy" dune ride or a "fast" dune ride. Sand-duning is basically riding in an SUV up, around, across, and through the dunes at speeds high enough to make it over the summit of the dunes and not get stuck in the sand. It quickly became evident that it didn't matter what we told the driver...we were going fast! We had one of our friends and her youngest child (1st grade) in the SUV with us and she laughed at Lisa when we approached our first dune. It was high and STRAIGHT UP. Lisa had butterflies in her stomach and quite the look of panic on her face! Ashlyn was in the backseat saying she wanted to go home and Kaleigh was just laughing! We climbed up to the top and WOW - - was that ever fun! Dwayne had done this before so he knew to expect.It was a fun and insane ride over the dunes and only last about 10-12 minutes (because we were running late!). We arrived at the desert camp where Ashlyn exclaimed "That was fun!" The desert camp is literally in the middle of all the dunes and was set up in a circular format. There were some little shopping tents, a henna station, a drink station, a shisha area, an area where you could dress in National Dress (very cool), and of course the food! Fantastic...fantastic.
In the center was a stage for dancing and surrounding the stage were traditional Middle-Eastern style tables (you sit on a small cushion and the table is at about knee height). These are absolutely the b
est tables for kids and the style encourages conversation and intimacy because you are so close to everyone at the table. Almost immediately, Lisa, Kaleigh and Ashlyn headed over to the henna painting to have their hands painted. Lisa had henna done before at the
Bab al Shams resort (another company event) and knew it took awhile to dry. It generally takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour. After it dries, you can wipe away the dried plant-based paint and you are left with a semi-permanent tattoo which lasts about 2 weeks. It's quite beautiful! Kaleigh and Ashlyn then took off and started running around the camp with friends they had made and simply were having good old-fashioned fun. The girls are very accustomed to hearing Middle Eastern music and they knew a belly dancer would be performing later. Check out their moves!
5.23.2008
Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
For all of you Americans out there, Happy Memorial Day weekend! Here is a really great site about the origins of Memorial Day. Since Kaleigh and Ashlyn attend an American curriculum-based school, they do not have school on Sunday (our first day of the school week here), so we will also have a three-day weekend. Whether or not you agree or disagree with the current war effort in Iraq, we all should take time to reflect and honor our soldiers (present and past) on this important holiday. Don't let it just be about a family picnic or going to the beach/lake. Make it matter...we are so fortunate to have our freedoms! You don't appreciate the freedoms you have until you no longer have them.
5.21.2008
Is it time for Americans to think smaller?
Exactly one month ago today, we posted a blog about the ever increasing price of gas back home. Today, Lisa's mom sent a new photo of the same gas station sign in Roanoke, VA and it's posted over to the left. It's just a few pennies under the national average. AAA keeps a listing of all states and their current gas prices, which is kind of interesting to read. We wanted to note that gas prices in Europe have been sky high for years now and we have noticed in London, Paris, and now Athens...that you simply don't see SUVs. Gas prices there are nearly double what the US is experiencing right now, so the world doesn't have much sympathy for the woes of Americans. People drive small cars in Europe...everyone drives small cars. This is a reality for most Europeans. Now, here in Dubai, where gas is cheaper than the US (but expensive for the Middle East), you see the SUVs. Most families (dare I say ev
ery garage in our neighborhood and all similar neighborhoods) have them. The only reason we have one is for the protection needed against the daily onslaught of poor and reckless driving here. When we return home for the summer, we will be driving a very small car. It would be an interesting study to determine the correlation between the types of vehicles driven and gas prices in that country. This last picture is of a gas station (or petrol station as they are called here) at which we frequently stop. It's located about 2 blocks from the Mall of the Emirates and there is a steady line (or queue as they say here!) for the gas pumps. The gas prices are not posted, but we pay about $1.64 per gallon of gas. Now, don't think we're getting off too easy! We can guarantee you that we are paying about 3 times as much for our groceries (especially fruit, American products, and dairy products) as you would in the United States. Remember...the United Arab Emirates produces almost none of its own food...a growing problem for this growing emirate of Dubai and the country as a whole. All of us pay for Dubai to import food and it's getting more expensive by the day.
ery garage in our neighborhood and all similar neighborhoods) have them. The only reason we have one is for the protection needed against the daily onslaught of poor and reckless driving here. When we return home for the summer, we will be driving a very small car. It would be an interesting study to determine the correlation between the types of vehicles driven and gas prices in that country. This last picture is of a gas station (or petrol station as they are called here) at which we frequently stop. It's located about 2 blocks from the Mall of the Emirates and there is a steady line (or queue as they say here!) for the gas pumps. The gas prices are not posted, but we pay about $1.64 per gallon of gas. Now, don't think we're getting off too easy! We can guarantee you that we are paying about 3 times as much for our groceries (especially fruit, American products, and dairy products) as you would in the United States. Remember...the United Arab Emirates produces almost none of its own food...a growing problem for this growing emirate of Dubai and the country as a whole. All of us pay for Dubai to import food and it's getting more expensive by the day.
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