My first experience marking stuff

First of all... HAPPY NEW YEARS everybody! May you and yours have a successful and fabulous year ahead! We are having a very foggy new year so far. It's so foggy that you can barely see a few meters ahead of you. People still manage to drive like maniacs, even when they can barely see. They also flash their hazard lights... I guess they use them differently here. Back home, we use them when there is something wrong with our cars and we are driving slowly. The hazard lights indicates' Be careful around me! I have a bad tire' Or while parked, the hazard light indicates 'I will get the hell out of the way as fast as I can, I swear!'. I am not really sure why the people of Dubai flash their hazard lights on a foggy day while driving 110 km/h... and it's not just one or two person doing this... everybody was flashing their hazard lights...

Anyways, for the last of days at work, I've been involved in marking. I've been helping my supervisor mark the assignments for the information literacy class. For this assignment, they have to complete a bibliography with five different sources. They use a document called "evaluation calculator' in order to determine the quality of the source. I find these assignments difficult to mark- not because it's full of grammatical errors and such, but I am just not all that sure they understand the point of the assignment. There are different evaluation calculators for different types of sources, such as books, articles, and websites. For all the different kinds of calculators, the top portion is the author, title and publisher fields. Then it's the 'criteria' section, which ask the student the purpose, audience, authority of the source, and whether or not it has a bibliography, how the source can be used, and whether or not it's biased or current. Each of these fields have a drop down menu. The student is to select the item that is suitable to describe the source. The last section is the 'annotation' section. Students are to write a few sentences about how useful the source is, and things like that.

This seems like a straight-forward assignment, you are probably thinking. I thought so too, when it was first shown to me. But I find a lot of times, students contradicts themselves. While they say that the source is 'very one-sided' in the 'bias' field, they don't explain how it's one-sided in the annotation section and will say things like 'this is a very helpful source'. I also find that students are not very good at picking out the authority of websites. They've evaluated government websites (published by the European Commission or the Australian government), and in the authority field, they will select "not sure". Furthermore, in the annotation, they will say things like 'I am not going to use this source for my topic because it doesn't list any authors". They don't realize that it is a government publication (as the government or entity is usually considered the 'author' of the site'). They also don't understand that although we read government information with a grain of salt, information published by the government is usually pretty reliable.

I just realize that there are so much I know that I take for granted. At a glance, I can tell (even as an undergraduate student), the difference between a newspaper article and a academic journal article. The students here would evaluate a newspaper article and decide in the annotation section that they are not going to use it because 'there is no bibliography'. I don't think they understand what kind of sources to use for what purpose. Most of us would know that there usually isn't a bibliography for a newspaper article. I can tell by scanning through a website whether or not it's government, commercial, non-profit or personal website. I understand how each of these sources can be used. I really hope that I can these students these skills.

This is the final assignment for the information literacy portion of this course. It's suppose to demonstrate that they are able to find, select and evaluate the sources. For the most part, I don't feel that they really understand, based on the assignments I have marked. Having said that, I am glad I got to do a little bit of marking before teaching, because I get a better sense of what areas I can emphasize on when I am teaching.

Although I get frustrated about living in Dubai, I do think my job is important. It's the only thing that's keeping me here right now. Information literacy is my passion, as I think it is my job to teach these young women how to be critical. I understand that they had been 'programmed' not question anything told to them, as I had been 'programmed' to always ask 'why?' They are raised in such a different environment, but in order to be a successful person living in the world today, one must be informed and critical. Whether or not they are looking for a job (it is becoming increasingly common for Emirati women to work), raising their children, or looking for information for any other personal or professional reasons, it is important to know how to find what's needed and whether or not the information is reliable. I think this is going to be a very interesting challenge. I wonder how much impact I can actually make on these students' lives.

By tomorrow, it will the a brand new year. A fresh start. I don't usually make new year's resolutions because I never stick to them, but this year, I am going to try my damn hardest to stop being such a drunk. Not going to quit drinking or anything silly like that, but you know, make an effort not to kill a bottle of wine by myself every night. And for the third time, I am going to quit smoking. As of tonight. Wish me luck!!

Hope you guy are having a wonderful new years!! Muah!

The pondering of a rhetorical question

How can people be such assholes? How can they think that it's actually okay to jump the line in a taxi queue? I looked at the woman in the eye, and I flat out told her, 'you can't jump the line. It's RUDE'. She gives me a weak smile, and said that there are children. I hate it when people use their children to justify their actions. It makes me ill!!! Again, I looked at her and said that there are plenty of people who have children and they don't jump the line. Then the line moved and she walked ahead to meet up with a man and two children AHEAD OF ME!!! Fuckers! Didn't their mother teach them manners? Does everybody else look like assholes to them? Is that why they can justify jumping the line? All of the sudden, I miss the orderly life back in Vancouver, where people lined up to get on the buses, lined up at the bank and lined up EVERYWHERE. If someone was trying jump the line, there sure is hell to pay. I get so frustrated about people in Dubai. I can't help it. It's such a transient place and people bring their bad manners here.

Maybe I am just insane. Maybe the rest of the world operates like this and I've just lived in a bubble my whole life where manners mattered. Where considering other people's feeling mattered. Where privilege is given not taken. Who the fuck do those people think they are? I've given up my seats on the bus for seniors and people with children. I've let people go ahead of me in a line up when they ask me nicely. I try to be polite and civil no matter what I am doing, or who I am talking to. But apparently, being polite or civil don't get you very far in Dubai. Apparently, I am suppose to act very rude and arrogant in order to get anything done around here. First order is to yell at Etisalat first thing tomorrow morning. I am going to do my best to be as loud and awful. This city is trying to change me. I've always be polite but firm. I don't let people walk all over me. But here, you just have to be plain rude. Ugh. Why does a city want to encourage this kind of behaviour? Why? Being rude and making a fuss take up so much energy... Ugh.

Dear friends, when you see me back home and I happen to be rude (not holding the door open for someone who is four steps away, pretending that I didn't see a disabled person on the bus), just remember this little entry and how I am forced to change my good ways and resort to backwards and uncivilized ways.

One of these days, I promise I will stop bitching. Maybe when I become like one of them, everything is Dubai will just be swell. Until then... please take my bitching as a form of amusement, something to read over your eggs and toast.

Merry Christmas!

Well, I suppose for once, Vancouverites are getting a white Christmas. How are you all feeling about that?

I am at work on Christmas day, tired and hung over. Went out for dinner last night with some friends. By paying 300 AED, ($100), you can do a nice all you can eat/drink buffet at a hotel. Of course I took the all you can drink to heart, and I drank a large amount of booze. I wish they would do all you can drink in Canada too.

I haven't had to work on Christmas Day in years, and today just doesn't feel like it. No Christmas at all on this university campus. I really do think they should have given us the day off and call it the 'expat appreciation day'. I mean, the country is dependent on us anyway, so might as well give our stupid holiday some recognition, so we can do our thing.

Merry Christmas everyone! Maybe I will go skating tonight.... Okay. I am nonfunctional and obviously brain dead. So I am going to go now.

Random post about nothing, really

I haven't been able to post on a regular basis these days because I have been unable to steal signals from my neighbours. As many of you may know, I've applied for Internet three weeks ago. I finally called them and was told that my account had been canceled due to some internal difficulties. I am suppose to go back to Etsisalat, and wait in line for a zillion years and set up a NEW account. Don't won't do anything for me over the phone. Can you believe this nonsense? I am so upset. My colleagues told me to be patient, and that it takes at least three months to settle in Dubai. BUT I HAVE BEEN PATIENT. I've been without Internet at home for a month now.

The way the rest of the world sees Dubai- all the fancy hotels, beach resorts, tallest building in the world... people think that Dubai is paved with gold. In some ways, I suppose it is. They are treating me very well here, paying me a good salary and giving me a nice apartment to live in. But in so many other ways, this IS a developing nation. Most people don't see this of course. There is no infrastructure. The roads are changing everyday (literally) due to construction. There are no street addresses and I hear that the postal system is a pain in the ass. Back home, it's just not really possible to have someone wait for this long to get Internet. But here, most people have to wait for weeks or months. I've had colleagues who went through hell getting a bank account, or acquiring their family member's residency visa. Everything (seriously, everything) is bound by very very very thick red tape. It's so frustrating... I have no control. No matter how nice I am, everything get done on their terms and not mine. This makes me want to cry. Or jump of the bridge. Or jumping off the bridge while crying. Or slitting my wrist. Better yet, just to go home.

Going home is not an option right now. I need to gain experience and I am making good money here. If I go home now, I would still be broke and have no library experience. The best I can do is bitch for a little while and after bitching, force a huge smile on my face and pretend that everything is okay. I can only do my best to maintain a positive attitude... and keep telling myself that I am going home eventually... if I can find a job or go back to school in Vancouver.

On the more positive note, I had a very pleasant weekend with my mother. I took her to the Madinat Jumeria on Friday, which is a beautiful beach resort. The architecture is amazing. And it's huge! It has an (overpriced, as I later found out) indoor souk. My mom and I spent hundred of Dihrams on beautiful scarves that are made of silk and cashmere. This place is also full of restaurants and actual bars. We had not-so-great Chinese food that's full of MSG. But the place has a very nice atompshere and we took a lot of photos. It's a very cool place to hang out.

Here is my mom in front of a vendor inside the souk:


This place is a total tourist trap but worth checking out. If any of you come visit, we will be getting drunk here for sure. :)

On Saturday, I took my mother to the Burj Al Arab, the infamous, one-and-only seven star hotel in the world. People can't even go into the building without a reservation. The cheapest option to go there was to go have afternoon tea at the Skyview Bar. (okay, you could get an afternoon tea for slightly less price on the ground floor... but why not go to the top for a few extra Dihrams?) An afternoon tea cost 390 Dihrams per person... which is about 130 Canadian dollars per person. It's probably the most expensive meal I've ever paid for... and it's only tea, sandwiches, pastries and some booze.

I got all dolled up and we had our tea like civilized people. The view from the Skyview Bar was amazing. You can see Alantis (the resort that's built on a man-made island) on one side, and from the other side, you can see all of Dubai. The decor was super fancy, as you may expect from a seven star hotel. The food was medicore at best, but I asked for an extra glass of mulled wine. For that price, I was determined to get my money's worth. We got to walk around the hotel a little bit after our meal. They had really nice Christmas decoration. Everything was shiny and great. Despite all the Christmas decoration, it still doesn't feel like Christmas in Dubai. The beaches surrounding the hotel was soooooo nice. We weren't allowed to go there though. It's apparently a private beach, for members only. Boo.

Even though this meal cost a forutune, my mom was happy and so it was worth it. Money is just money... I can always earn more.

Here is a picture of me indulging in very expensive sandwiches and pastries:



That same night, I took my mom to the gold souk. It's massive and there was gold everywhere. We didn't take any pictures, unfortunately. But it was dazzling. Everywhere you look, there is something shiny on display. It was like maze in there. We actually got lost and it took us forever to get back to the main road to get a cab. My mom was talked into buying a white gold and diamond ring for $600 US. I am not sure if that was a good price. It has just over half a karet of diamonds and about 16g of white gold (I think). My mom is slightly concerned that my dad is going to yell at her for overspending. I told her that she should be allowed to spurge. She is in Dubai after all.

That's just it with Dubai-- it's so easy to spend your money. Everywhere you go, there is always something to buy. Malls and resorts are everywhere. I am such a sucker for sunglasses, purses and scarves. They have such a wide variety of products from all over the world. And if you don't go to the mall, there are plenty of souks too. The less toursity ones sell a wide range of items from clothing to spices that are very reasonably priced (supposedly). I've decided that I am just going to stay home for the time I am here... unless I have a visitor, I am just going to stay put so I can actually save the money I am earning here.

Mom is leaving in two days. So very sad. Tonight, I will have to take her out to line up at Etisalat, which I am sure she is going to be thrilled about. Poor mom. She gets to sit at home all day by herself watching Japanese dramas when I am at work. And tonight, she gets to see the buracacy of Dubai, which I am sure is going to be very exciting.

Anyways. I hope you are all having a great time getting ready for Christmas. Take care!!

The stuff I miss

I miss Shopper's Drug Mart, with all my familiar brand names. Here in Dubai, there are some familiar brand names, but they are all products from last year. They don't have the newest scent of Herbal Essences. And their Colgate look funny. And their Lady's Speedstick cost a fortune. In fact, everything here cost a fortune.

I miss having a dryer. I miss warm, soft laundry that's fresh out of the dryer. I used to put it right up to my face and it smells so nice and feels so warm. Now I have to hang everything. All my towels are stiff when they are dry. And I have to iron all my shirts. :(

Oh, Seven Eleven, you are all over the world, why aren't you in Dubai? Where am I suppose to buy cigarettes before work? I don't think they believe in 24 hour corner stores.

I miss having a real bowl of rice. Instead of this dry, shitty variety I've been getting since the day I arrived. I want Chinese BBQ pork. I've walked by Chinese restaurants here... and they look kind of scary... not like haunted scary, but scary like, 'what the fuck is this?'

I would also like to have some sushi that doesn't make me sick. Ummm... chopped scallop rolls.

It's almost worst being here than being in Edmonton. At least in Edmonton, I get a little bit of the stuff I normally enjoy, and it certainly doesn't lack Shoppers Drug Mart of Seven Eleven. And even though they are not the greatest, I can get some sushi that doesn't make me sick. AND IT'S ONLY AN HOUR AWAY FROM VANCOUVER!!! Oh yeah, but I forgot how cold I was... I don't like being cold... at least I am warm here....

I don't know if I am extra whiny because I ran out of cigarettes...

I hear it's cold in Vancouver AND Edmonton. Hope you are all staying warm... if any of you ever need a break, please do come visit me in Dubai. The weather is very pleasant... it is 23 degrees today!

Desert Safari

You know how people have huge Sports Utility Vehicles all over the Lower Mainland? I finally understand today what they are really meant for (instead of getting stuck in traffic at the Port Mann Bridge, or sitting in someone's three door fancy garage in North Van). My mom and I went on a desert safari today. A driver drove us in a SUV and we drove in the dunes. It was really fun.

I fell in love with the desert today. I saw the desert on the Discovery Channel, but it's a whole different experience being in the desert. It was breathtakingly beautiful. The pictures don't serve justice.



We were on the desert just before sunset. I took off my shoes and was walking around. The sand was soft and fine. It was cool and felt great between my toes. I picked up a handful of sand with my hand and let the wind blow it away. It was so light, and looked beautiful under sun set. I need to make friends who have a SUV so they can take me on the desert every weekend. The desert beats any mall or night club, I tell you. Riding the dunes is awesome. It's like a roller coaster ride. If any of you ever come to visit me in Dubai, I will be sure to take you on this safari.


After sunset, we went to a little camp in the middle of the desert. We got to ride a camel, had henna done on our hands, smoked a hooka and ate. They even served booze there. After dinner, there was a belly dancer. It was all in all a very enjoyable evening. I am tuckered out!

Sightseeing and shopping

Yay! Mom is here. Yesterday I took her on the "Big Bus" and we did a tour around the whole city. It was fun and we took a lot of photos. Here are some examples:

We went to the old part of Dubai, right by the Creek. This is where Dubai originally started, although the main business area have been moved. This area is full of souks, selling spices, gold and other goods. We weren't able to find the gold souk though. :( The below is when we were taking the water taxi from one side of the creek to the other (where the gold souk was suppose to be):



The beach tour was mostly new parts of Dubai. My mom took plenty of photos of the famous Burj Al Arab and Atlantis. The beaches were great, although I hear that the water is really gross. They apparently dump all the sewage into the gulf. Ewwww. But it still LOOKS nice. Great places to hang out. Beats Vancouver rain, I am sure. Below is the Burj Al Arab, the six (or was it seven) star hotel that is suppoe to look like a sailboat:



We also went into the Mall of Emirates. It's a very very big mall... the one with the indoor ski hill. Some of you may remember that I lost a pair of Versaces sunglasses before the Radiohead show. I was really really upset by the whole thing. I managed to buy the exact same pair without my mom knowing (she would kill me if she found out, and now it's like I've never lost them!). My mom bought a pair of Versaces as well. If it would up to me, I would never ever wear any other sunglasses besides Versaces. But they sure cost a fortune!

Today, I took my mom to the Dubai Outlet Mall. It was rather disappointing. But I found a really cool ring. But yeah, it's nothing exciting. I am totally exhausted and don't feel like writing much anymore. I figure I should because I managed to steal really good Internet connection. I had to take advantage of it.

Tomorrow, we are going on to the desert safari. That should be very interesting and fun.

Oh yeah, now that Internet is working in the meantime, I should show you all our shopping cart after our last booze run on Sunday. Trust me, beloved friends, it IS very possible to get booze in the UAE (and lots of it, as you can see):



I swear not all of it is mine. Okay, fine, most of it is. I've never had so much booze in my place. My mom also brought over two liters of Grey Goose vodka and two liters of fancy tequlia. I have more booze than food! Yuppers!

Dubai kicked my ass today

I feel completely and utterly defeated by Dubai today. I needed a hair cut so I called a cab to come pick me up from my apartment. It never came. I walked down the street towards the direction of the salon and an unmarked car stopped. I should have known better but I was missing my appointment... so I hopped in. The guy didn't try to touch me or anything like that, but he charged me an obscene amount for the ride (that lasted all of seven minutes).

I got into the salon in kind of a pissy mood, and it was one of those not-so-nice places (it was recommended by my friend who had been there before). The whole place was ran by Philipino women. I figure this is a good sign since Asians know how to cut Asian hair. Except this stupid hair dresser butchered my bangs. I look like a FOB now. While she was blow drying my hair, I told her I didn't want it straight. I wanted it wavy... but she obviously wasn't listening because my hair is now straight. I was pissed off, but I figure hair will grow back. I am okay with this, even though I really wasn't. I decided that I was never ever going back there again. In fact, I am just going to wait until I get home to cut my hair now. Not that I like hair dressers in Vancouver anyway, but at least I know one hair dresser back home who won't butcher my hair.

I walked out of the salon and was trying to get a cab and every single one of them ignored me. So I had to walk home. My friend said this is the 'Philipino sydrome". Cab drivers don't like to pick them up. I don't really know why... maybe because they think all Philipino women are prostutites. But I am NOT even Philipino...they just don't know the difference. Stupid cab drivers. The whole time I was walking home (probably took about 40 minutes), men were constantly blowing their horns at me. People would slow down to stare at me. It was extremely unpleasant. What a sexist and racist place. I hate it. I never felt more like a foreigner than I did today.

Dubai kicked me ass today. It made me feel awful. This apparently happens to everybody, but it still doesn't make me feel better. How am I to leave my house if I can't get a cab? And I am still upset about my hair. It's a good thing my mom is coming today. I could really use a hug... that is, IF I can get a cab to get to the airport....

booze, booze, booze

Yesterday was the best day since I got here. My friend Josh and I went out into the middle of the desert (hick town UAE) and went to a beach resort called Barracuda. This is the place to go to get LIQUOR without a license. It's about an hour away from Dubai. I wish I could upload some of the pictures I took along the way, but I still don't have Internet at home and I am using a crappy connection at the coffee shop downstairs from my apartment. But the desert is actually a really neat place. I was a little self-conscious getting off the car at the gas station. My skirt was a little too short. People were gawking, and I didn't like that...

Anyways, this is the best place I've been since I got to Dubai. A huge ass store full of nothing but booze. It's a dream come true for a drunk like me. We loaded up our shopping cart full of booze. I spent about 100 bucks and now I am fully stocked. It's very exciting. I've never had so much booze in my place before. And this has to last a while, because who knows when I will be able to go again. I also took a picture of the shopping cart, but I won't be able to upload it until I get real Internet connection. Sigh*

Hope you are all having a great day! The weather is finally clearing up here. The sun is out...

Please don't sell me into postitution!

I had the adventure of my life in a cab yesterday. I was super bored and I ran into my friend Josh at the coffee shop downstairs (he is an art instructor at the university). He invited me to his house (god knows where it is), and gave me a very detailed map. At around 7:00pm, I called a cab and it came within 10 minutes. I got in and started to give the cab driver directions, based on this map in my hand. My cab driver was older man, seemed nice enough, but I couldn't understand what the hell he was saying to me. Since I didn't really know where I was going, and it seemed like he wanted to take me to places I didn't want to go, I started to panic. I called Josh, and I was like, 'dude, fucking help me before I am taken to the black market and be sold as a Philipino prostitute!!' (they all think I am Philipino here, they can't tell the difference). Josh said just to tell him to go straight, go straight but the cab driver insisted on turning. And I said NO NO NO, please go straight.

Eventually, he started to listen to me, and it seemed like all the landmarks Josh had drawn on the map is starting to appear outside of the car window, which was VERY comforting. The last turn we made was a right, and Josh's apartment building was suppose to be the third one on the left. But all I saw where half built condo buildings and again, I was like Josh, where the hell am I? We were on the phone for a while, and I was getting more and more stressed out. We couldn't figure out where we are, and the cab driver (being sort of sensible at this point), told me that there was a Carrefour nearby (which is kind of like a Walmart, except with lots and lots of grocery as well). I told him to drop me off there, and Josh was to come get me from there. By this point, I was dying to get off the cab and I was disheartened to see that there was a huge traffic congestion at the parking lot of Carrefour. There was a flood in the parking lot (it was pissing rain earlier, and since Dubai doesn't really have a drainage system, it floods when it rains). People apparently can't drive in water (not that they can when the roads are dry, the water just makes everything worse). It's kind of like drivers in Vancouver when it snows. For some reason, no one was moving and we all wanted to go into Carrefour. Everyone was honking their horns constantly, which added to my stress.

We were completely stopped in the middle of the road trying to get into the parking lot, and the driver was honking and talking (maybe swearing?) constantly. I was contemplating whether or not I should just get off and walk. He insisted on driving me to the store. All of the sudden, I hear a loud 'THUD'. I turned my head and saw that some crazy Emarati woman hit us coming from a different direction. The cab driver jumped off the cab and started to fight with this woman in a very very loud voice. At the point, I was about to lose it, I got off the cab with 40 Diaharms (the fare was only 30), and handed it to him, and fled the scene. I didn't know taking a cab can be so stressful. That accident just topped it off though. My nerves were shot. I needed a drink immediately when I saw Josh. All he said was , 'Kayo, it will get better.' It better fucking get better because I think I might either lose all my hair, or really be sold into prostitution one of these days. Jeez.

Cab drivers are suppose to know where they are going. Right? Sure, they might rip you off, but you can trust that they know how to get from point A to point B. It's their jobs, right? NO, not the case in Dubai. Half of them don't know where they are going because the roads are constantly changing here. None of them know any of the street names, unless it's the Emirates Road (a major highway). For a girl who doesn't know the city at all dealing with cab drivers who only understand the city based on landmarks is bad bad news. But I have no other options but to take a cab to get around. I can't imagine driving in this crazy circus. I will probably seriously die in a car accident.

I left Josh's place at around 11 in a much happier state (booze does wonderful things). The cab driver this time around was very nice. He may have been Iranian. He spoke English very well, and seemed like a calm, sensible person. We chatted a little bit. You see, I am looking for a driver to take me from my work to home everyday. I could get a ride out to the university no problem, but I have no way of getting home because everybody like to leave early (I like to leave early too, but I am not allowed to). So I got his number and I think he will be my driver from now on. We are going to work out a deal when I start work again. I think he will be reliable and not leave me stranded in the middle of the desert (which is where the university is).

Did you get a good laugh? I hope you did. I was super stressed out in the cab last night, but now I just thought the whole incident was kind of amusing... and it's something that happens to everybody because of how the city functions. It's insane and kind of annoying, but damn it, going home to Vancouver is not an option right now, so I am going to stick it out, and try my hardest not to lose all my hair or be sold into prostitution for the time I am here.

I can't be bothered with a title today. Sorry.

This not having the Internet thing is starting to make me stir-crazy. Apparently, the Internet of the whole building in down. How can the Internet god allow this to happen?!?!?! How am I suppose to steal Internet? (It's apparently working right at this moment, that's why I am able to steal it) I visited Etisalat (the one and only Internet provider in the UAE) on Monday. When I asked them when they are coming by to hook me up, he said, "7 working business days". What the fuck?!?! With the National Day and the Eid coming up, I will never get hooked up. Besides, what does it matter if I get hooked up if the Internet for the whole building is down? I was told that even if I was paying for Internet, it can go down any minute. Oh Internet god, please save me, please save me from the lack of your love! Please come to Dubai and fix this fucking problem.

I've been pretty bored, so this is probably going to be a pretty boring post. I finally went out to and bought myself a DVD player. I also found the second season of 'Dead Like Me'. I watched the whole season in two days. I was that bored. I didn't have Internet pretty much for the last two days. And all my 'new friends' have left to go on vacation, or are unavailable. It's been a lonely and boring last couple of days, let me tell you. Oh, in case you are wondering, the second season is brilliant. I don't want to spoil it, but it's great! It also made me more than slightly homesick, considering a lot of the scenes were filmed in Vancouver. My beloved, dear, dear city. Sigh*

My apartment is start to look like someone lives here. I've put up some photos. I hung a glass clock that I bought from IKEA, and it was up on the wall for all of an hour. While I was sitting enjoying my cocktail and watching 'Dead Like Me', it fell and shattered into a thousand pieces on the floor. I had to pause my show to clean up. Ugh. I should have known better than to buy a glass clock. What the hell was I thinking?

I have two cats now. Don't worry folks, I am not a crazy cat lady. Not yet anyway. I am looking after my friend's cat while she went back to the states. I am trying to develop some good karama so when I am going on vacation, she will look after my cat. I am thinking ahead. This cat's name is Bella. She's been hiding for two days and crying (and keeping me up all night). I totally understand how she feels though... being in a totally strange place with strange people (okay, it's just me and Dewey). She has every right to be scared. Fortunately, she is slowly emerging from her shell... but I don't think Dewey likes this intruder in her home. They fight a lot. But since Dewey is so much smaller, she always seem to loose. Poor thing.

Although I have nothing exciting to report, I've decided to post something for my royal readers. I hope you are all well and flourishing... and staying out of trouble. My mother is coming to visit on Monday, so I am going to take her sightseeing. More adventure may come shortly. And photos too! Stay tuned!

National Day

Today is National Day. The UAE was formed 37 years ago today. On top of this holiday and Eid that's coming up, I have twelve days off from work. I think during Eid, practicing Muslims are suppose to go to Mecca. As much as I'd love to go to Mecca, I think I am just going to go explore Dubai and do some shopping to make my apartment more home-like.

The National Day celebration at my university was crazy! They really went all out. We don't even celebrate like that in Canada. Everybody gets very invovled, and it was super lively outside. There was music, booth selling UAE things (like flags, jewerly with the UAE colours, which are white, black, red and green, food stuff, etc, etc). I couldn't sit still in my office so I went and checked it out. This is what I saw:



I still have lots to do for the next twelve days... Re-arranging my apartment and finding and putting stuff on my bare bare walls. I need to sort out my water situation. Apparently, people have bottled water delivered to their homes. I also need to find a dry cleaner (they do home delivery as well), I need to find someone to clean my house (because it's too big, and I am lazy). I also need to set up my online banking... find new arrangement to go to work, draft a proposal for my potential project, etc, etc. I think I might be busy for the next while!

I am so fascinated with the Emirati culture. For my project, I like to explore the information practices of Emirati felmale students. I want to learn about what kind of information they seek, where they find it and how they make use of it. It should be a very interesting project IF I get permission and money. There's a lot of ethical issues that need to be considered and it's kind of a touchy and senstive topic. We will see what happens.

Here is a piece of sad news. Dewey isn't doing so hot. She's been sick and hasn't been eating for a few days now. I think she is starting to realize that she's going to be stuck with me. I am taking her to the vet tomorrow and see what can be done. Poor Dewey has lost her freedom to roam the street, but she's gained a new home, regular meal and a new friend! I hope she will be okay.

I heard Christmas music at the coffee shop today for the first time since coming here. I never thought I would say this, but I kind of miss hearing Christmas music. Back home, I HATED it, considering I used to work at Chapters and I hear it all day at work. Christmas music is EVERYWHERE back home, even when you are not working. I miss Christmas... For me, Christmas has always been about eating, drinking and hanging out with the people you love the most. My partner, friends and family. This year, I am going to be kind of alone and missing out on that... and the presents... I will miss getting presents! :(

Hope you are all having a fantastic day!