- Corn-in-a-cup
- Chips with chile and lemon
- Penchant for gold jewelery
- Car window decals emblazoned with names
- Shwarma = Middle Eastern taco (term used with permission from Lawrence Ramos)
- Love of dramatic eye makeup
- Fresh khubz = pan dulce
The expat life in Abu Dhabi
Monday, December 27, 2010
Parallel Universe
Before arriving in Abu Dhabi, Daniel and I heard a bunch of times how much Arab culture was similar to Hispanic culture. Since we've now completed our fourth month in the UAE, I feel confident in saying that we wholeheartedly agree. Here is a quick rundown of the similarities that we have noticed, so far.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Cheaper by the Dozen
Hello, dear readers! I am trying to post more frequently here...so far it is not happening. Hopefully over the break I will be able to write more.
I was thinking about the overall cost of living here in the UAE. Some things are much, much cheaper, and some things are more expensive. Here is a quick list (off the top of my head) of some of the cheaper items and services the city has to offer. Fellow Abu Dhabians, feel free to add your own suggestions.
Cheaper:
-A can of Coca-Cola
A can of Coke in a local, corner grocery, or in a major supermarket will only set you back AED 1, which is exactly $0.27. A bottle of Coke will cost you twice that, at AED 2, which is $0.54. Not bad!
-Laundry and Dry Cleaning
Our hotel apartments are, of course, stocked with an ironing board and iron, but who voluntarily irons when our Pakistani friends at Ruby Laundry are willing to do it for a small fee? All kidding aside, Daniel and I do enjoy supporting small, local businesses here. The men at Ruby are extremely polite, and will either wash, dry-clean and iron the hell out of whichever clothing items we wish. Seriously, Daniel has never had such creases. His work pants can probably stand up of their own accord.
Coin laundromats do not exist here, at all. Doing it oneself is not an option. Hotel laundry is very expensive, just like it is in Europe or the States. Local laundries pick up, wash, iron, and deliver an entire bag of laundry for about AED 50, which translates to about $13.00. Such deals offer us the ability to tip these kind, hard-working men generously, which for us, is more fun than the thrill of a bargain service.
-Local restaurants
Abu Dhabi is emerging as a foodie city, with high-end restaurants at every 5-star hotel. Those places, are of course, fabulous, and would you like to enjoy a glass of wine with your meal, that will be your destination, as alcohol is only served in hotel restaurants or bars.
However, if you are in the market for dirt-cheap, delicious, dangerously-spicy Lebanese, Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, or Moroccan food, you should steer clear of the hotels, and instead follow the laborers to their favorite local place. With so many men seeking a taste of the food at home, they are surely not going to mess with less-than-amazing, authentic restaurants.
Daniel and I make it a point to try as many local places as we can, with a reasonable amount of time in between to allow our stomachs recover. (Note: Always, always worth it). Our record for cheapest meal for two people has been AED 8. Yes, that's right: $2.18. That was Pakistani food, and we have not gotten even close to a total of AED 8 since. The food was great, not the best we've had here, but certainly not the worst. It did set us back a little more than AED 8, however, as we left our waiter AED 20, which is still only $5.46.
-Taxis
Taking a taxi in Abu Dhabi is a very economical option for transportation. Depending on traffic, I can get halfway across the main island for about AED 20. They are by far the fastest option for getting from point A to point B in the city. City buses also run around the clock for only AED 1 per ride, but they are much slower and one must wait for people to get on and off.
The majority of taxis in Abu Dhabi are 2009 or 2010 Toyota Camrys or Nissan Altimas and have a digital meter inside that tells you the price, driver's name, number, speed, and time duration.
The majority of taxi drivers in AD know the streets like the back of their hand. Since street numbers are not used here, one must use landmarks. If it is a common enough destination of which there is only one, you can simply tell the driver that. For example, our apartment building is above the Greenhouse Center department store, at the corner of two well-known main streets. When I get in a taxi, I usually just tell the driver "Greenhouse," and he will get me there with no problem.
I now know enough about the city's streets that I can get to an unknown, new destination by means of what I know about it's general vicinity. For example, I couldn't remember the cross street for my Arabic class, so I told the driver: "Pizza Hut on Airport, right side, go through signal, then parking (meaning, go inside and stop)." We got there.
Taxi drivers get a bad rap in Abu Dhabi, and some of them deserve it. I have had very few crazy cab drivers since I have arrived, and rarely feel unsafe when in one. Most concerns can be taken care of by simply telling them to slow down, or to chill out (shway, shway!). My experience has been that while some drive faster than I might on a given road, they are certainly very skilled at what they do. I have been in taxis where the driver has fit through a space between cars so tiny that I feel I must be in the Matrix. Or, they take driver confidence to a new level by successfully making it to the right lane from the third lane from the left, in only 20 meters. No problem, I say. We can turn at the next light!" Some times they must quickly get by some one else who is not being safe, which I appreciate. You just have to remember that 90% of taxi drivers are from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, and India, where the rules for driving are much, much different than we are used to.
And now for something completely different: This is something I feel completely confident saying, and I do not know a soul who would disagree with me. Emiratis cannot drive. Period. ;)
I was thinking about the overall cost of living here in the UAE. Some things are much, much cheaper, and some things are more expensive. Here is a quick list (off the top of my head) of some of the cheaper items and services the city has to offer. Fellow Abu Dhabians, feel free to add your own suggestions.
Cheaper:
-A can of Coca-Cola
A can of Coke in a local, corner grocery, or in a major supermarket will only set you back AED 1, which is exactly $0.27. A bottle of Coke will cost you twice that, at AED 2, which is $0.54. Not bad!
-Laundry and Dry Cleaning
Our hotel apartments are, of course, stocked with an ironing board and iron, but who voluntarily irons when our Pakistani friends at Ruby Laundry are willing to do it for a small fee? All kidding aside, Daniel and I do enjoy supporting small, local businesses here. The men at Ruby are extremely polite, and will either wash, dry-clean and iron the hell out of whichever clothing items we wish. Seriously, Daniel has never had such creases. His work pants can probably stand up of their own accord.
Coin laundromats do not exist here, at all. Doing it oneself is not an option. Hotel laundry is very expensive, just like it is in Europe or the States. Local laundries pick up, wash, iron, and deliver an entire bag of laundry for about AED 50, which translates to about $13.00. Such deals offer us the ability to tip these kind, hard-working men generously, which for us, is more fun than the thrill of a bargain service.
-Local restaurants
Abu Dhabi is emerging as a foodie city, with high-end restaurants at every 5-star hotel. Those places, are of course, fabulous, and would you like to enjoy a glass of wine with your meal, that will be your destination, as alcohol is only served in hotel restaurants or bars.
However, if you are in the market for dirt-cheap, delicious, dangerously-spicy Lebanese, Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, or Moroccan food, you should steer clear of the hotels, and instead follow the laborers to their favorite local place. With so many men seeking a taste of the food at home, they are surely not going to mess with less-than-amazing, authentic restaurants.
Daniel and I make it a point to try as many local places as we can, with a reasonable amount of time in between to allow our stomachs recover. (Note: Always, always worth it). Our record for cheapest meal for two people has been AED 8. Yes, that's right: $2.18. That was Pakistani food, and we have not gotten even close to a total of AED 8 since. The food was great, not the best we've had here, but certainly not the worst. It did set us back a little more than AED 8, however, as we left our waiter AED 20, which is still only $5.46.
-Taxis
Taking a taxi in Abu Dhabi is a very economical option for transportation. Depending on traffic, I can get halfway across the main island for about AED 20. They are by far the fastest option for getting from point A to point B in the city. City buses also run around the clock for only AED 1 per ride, but they are much slower and one must wait for people to get on and off.
The majority of taxis in Abu Dhabi are 2009 or 2010 Toyota Camrys or Nissan Altimas and have a digital meter inside that tells you the price, driver's name, number, speed, and time duration.
The majority of taxi drivers in AD know the streets like the back of their hand. Since street numbers are not used here, one must use landmarks. If it is a common enough destination of which there is only one, you can simply tell the driver that. For example, our apartment building is above the Greenhouse Center department store, at the corner of two well-known main streets. When I get in a taxi, I usually just tell the driver "Greenhouse," and he will get me there with no problem.
I now know enough about the city's streets that I can get to an unknown, new destination by means of what I know about it's general vicinity. For example, I couldn't remember the cross street for my Arabic class, so I told the driver: "Pizza Hut on Airport, right side, go through signal, then parking (meaning, go inside and stop)." We got there.
Taxi drivers get a bad rap in Abu Dhabi, and some of them deserve it. I have had very few crazy cab drivers since I have arrived, and rarely feel unsafe when in one. Most concerns can be taken care of by simply telling them to slow down, or to chill out (shway, shway!). My experience has been that while some drive faster than I might on a given road, they are certainly very skilled at what they do. I have been in taxis where the driver has fit through a space between cars so tiny that I feel I must be in the Matrix. Or, they take driver confidence to a new level by successfully making it to the right lane from the third lane from the left, in only 20 meters. No problem, I say. We can turn at the next light!" Some times they must quickly get by some one else who is not being safe, which I appreciate. You just have to remember that 90% of taxi drivers are from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, and India, where the rules for driving are much, much different than we are used to.
And now for something completely different: This is something I feel completely confident saying, and I do not know a soul who would disagree with me. Emiratis cannot drive. Period. ;)
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Happy National Day!
As I write this post, I am continually distracted by the horn-honking, shouting, and blower-tooting that is going on outside. Normally, horn-honking is reserved for drivers, ahem, expressing their dissatisfaction with other drivers. Today, the customary soundtrack of annoyance is replaced by one of glee and celebration. Apparently, one must celebrate National Day by being really. Freaking. Loud.
This week, all schools in Abu Dhabi geared up for National Day, which is December 1st. During the week preceding the event, the girls at my school performed a series of songs, chants, dances, and speeches, all related to the history of the UAE.
On Wednesday, Al Taqadom Primary School held its"official celebration" and invited parents to watch and enjoy the festivities. All of my girls dressed up in the unspoken uniform of either a dress fashioned to look like the Emirati flag and a gold headpiece, or a prom dress and big hair, or red, green, and black clothing and a cowboy hat of the same shades. Apparently, everything goes as long as passersby are overwhelmed by your patriotism.
All kidding aside, it is nice to see that the Emiratis take so much pride in their country. At 39 years old, the UAE is still a baby, especially compared with many of the once-Ancient civilizations of the Middle East.
(I had trouble uploading photos at the time of posting-sorry. I will try to add them later.)
This week, all schools in Abu Dhabi geared up for National Day, which is December 1st. During the week preceding the event, the girls at my school performed a series of songs, chants, dances, and speeches, all related to the history of the UAE.
On Wednesday, Al Taqadom Primary School held its"official celebration" and invited parents to watch and enjoy the festivities. All of my girls dressed up in the unspoken uniform of either a dress fashioned to look like the Emirati flag and a gold headpiece, or a prom dress and big hair, or red, green, and black clothing and a cowboy hat of the same shades. Apparently, everything goes as long as passersby are overwhelmed by your patriotism.
All kidding aside, it is nice to see that the Emiratis take so much pride in their country. At 39 years old, the UAE is still a baby, especially compared with many of the once-Ancient civilizations of the Middle East.
(I had trouble uploading photos at the time of posting-sorry. I will try to add them later.)
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