The Heat Wave

All of you that know me well know I'm a girl that loves the heat. I could spend my days in the sun, on a beach, and die a happy girl. But this is heat to a whole new level. Walking out of the airport it felt as if a heavy blanket of still air was wrapping around you. Instant clammy skin and damp hair. This is not an enjoyable heat! The drastic difference between the cold air conditioned buildings and the heat outside causes my sunglasses to fog up instantly. So on day 1 we were off to cool off and have a refreshing dip in the Arabic Sea - never expecting the water to be so warm it felt like you were taking a warm bath! We quickly found a shaded palm which made the temperature almost bearable. Once used to it, it wasn't so bad - can't complain when you're walking on silky soft sand that almost melts under your toes, surrounded by turquoise water and a 5 start resort in the background.

Arriving in Abu Dhabi with our 2 Canadian friends we were feeling anxious and unsure about what to do. Three of us were immediately directed to a gate titled "eye-scan". An Arabic man pointed to a chair, aimed a green dot at my forehead and then pointed to the door (all the while talking on his cell phone). Justin, being the only one without his working visa was pacing back and forth in the immigration line, unsure of where to go or what to do - surely looking nervous and suspicious (not a great way to enter immigration)! Luckily, despite all of this, we were quickly sent through immigration. Feeling confident and happy to be through we started to walk through the arrival gate - where my large mound of suitcases (were 4 suitcases really necessary?!) knocked into a large metal garbage, sending the lid flying and the garbage teetering over to make a large crash. I looked up to see a small group of about 50 chauffeurs, standing and waiting with arrival signs - way to make an entrance. I'd also like to mention that during this moment of colossal embarrassment Justin had quickly continued on his journey a mile ahead of me!

Arriving at our hotel left me quickly forgetting the embarrassing moment at the airport. The word extravagant doesn't do justice to the buildings here - especially our hotel. A lady playing a harp in the lobby, marble floors with colourful and elegant decor. More surprising however was the lobby bar, with women dressed in strappy dresses drinking fancy cocktails and groups of Muslim men and women lounging with smokes in their hands. Even more surprising was the poolside bar, blasting top 40 hits and the lady tanning in her g-string bikini. This does not feel like the Abu Dhabi I had pictured in my head! While there are still many women wearing full burqas, covering everything but their eyes and there are some women wearing burqas with their faces showing - I don't feel as foreign here as I thought I would. It is a mix of many cultures and many people. None of which have made me feel uncomfortable or out of place.

Coming here as a female I was expecting to be treated differently than in Canada. And I have been -  but not how I predicted! I have been treated with more respect and chivalry than I would expect from the men at home. At our first restaurant the waiter stated that all of the women around the table would be served first, prior to the men. This later reversed when he brought the bills and handed them to all of the men - joking that "now it is the man's turn to go first" :) Later on while sitting on the marble floor of the school lobby (trying to cool off on the marble) as we waited to meet with HR a couple of men walked out of their offices. Appalled that we were sitting on the floor they kindly offered to bring us chairs. Despite our refusals, they quickly rolled in some chairs for us - to which Justin quickly jumped up to claim one. The man stopped him, stated "no - women first here". Ahhhhhh - I could get used to this!

It is now 7am in the morning, a mild 30 degrees (soon to be 42) and I am sweating profusely on my balcony. Jet lag is still kicking in and this girl was up at 4am - not fun. Although, I would say this is the first time in my history that I can recall watching the sunrise. And the view of the sun rising over the Arabian Sea makes me wonder why I haven't moved here sooner!