The weekend was nice, although we didn’t do much. We visited the Al Ain Mall. Its just as nice as the one in Abu Dhabi, but this one has a ice skating rink! Seeing Arabs skating around in robes is quite interesting. They also have these things for beginning skaters to use. They look like walkers for old people. You just push them around as you
skate and they help you balance. We took a taxi to and from the mall. There are two types of taxis here. One’s with the green signs are unmetered and you try to broker a deal with them. Then there are the silver ones with yellow signs. They are metered and much nicer. Both were close in price so we’ll try to take the nicer silver ones when possible. If you’re curious – a taxi ride across Al Ain cost about 2 bucks. I can handle that.
Friday night Alanna had me take a walk to a local shopping area. It was rumored that it was an “all male” area so the wife was weary of going. We wanted to try some of the local food so I figured I’d give it a shot after dark. After verifying where it was with the hotel guys ( one of them is Nigerian and he’s my friend. I don’t know his name though, but he’s nice and always talks to me) and took off on foot. It was about a 10 minute walk and at night its very pleasant. Only thing is, I was on a mission, so I was walking with a purpose. Seems like all the Arabs were taking leisurely strolls. I kept stepping into the street to pass people. Oh and the taxis kept honking at me. I guess when they see a white guy like me walking down the street, they figure I could use a lift. I kept on going though. This “all male” shopping area was indeed all male. I only saw one woman the whole time, and she was a Europeon lady buying some groceries. Other than her, there were all men. Its a small strip mall with about 15 or 20 shops. There were 4 or 5 male only barbershops, 3 or 4 grocery stores (think 7-11, but smaller) and about 5 food type places. I walked up and down the shops a few times, then made my way inside one of the food shops.
The shop was skinny but long. Behind the first counter were three spindle type things that had giant triangular type slabs of meat on them. They were spinning slowly and being cooked with fire. The cooks would slice off the meat and
sell it. They also had a type of Rotisserie grill that was spinning some good looking chicken. Well, I know how to say two things in Arabic – “Do you speak English?”, and “Thank you.”, and I used them both in the shop. I asked if anyone spoke english and this nice man stepped forward and said he did. He then explained me to what my options were. I got some of the sliced off meat, which they gave me bread wraps for. I also got one of those whole rotisserie chickens. I got some hummus and salad as well. In the states, this would have all cost me over $30 easily. Here I got it for less than $10. I took it back to the hotel and Alanna and I both loved the food. It was very good!
Saturday afternoon Alanna and I onced again braved the heat and ventured out of the hotel. We went across the street into a beautiful park. It was so well designed – lots of trees, soft grass, fountains,
playgrounds. We were also slightly confused by the bathrooms. The women’s sign sort of looked like a woman with a black headpiece on and the men’s had one with a white headpiece. Check out Alanna beside her bathroom!
We walked around the whole park and then headed back.
Saturday was also the first day of Ramadan. For those of you who are unlightened, its a month long holy holiday for muslims where they fast from sun up to sun down. They must also refrain from all kinds of other wordly stuff during daylight hours as well. Non-muslims, by law, are not allowed to eat or drink outside or basically anywhere in the presence of Muslims during this period either. You can only eat or drink in private or in special rooms in the hotels. Pretty much all the food places are closed down anyway, so you have no choice. Once the sun sets though, everyone starts eating like crazy. It becomes a fesitval type atmosphere. We had a big dinner buffet in the hotel. The spread was excellent. They also gave us some kind of hot perfume tea. Was weird but good. So this is something we’ll have to deal with for the next month. Ramadan Kareem!
The work week is Sun-Thur here, with Fri and Sat being the weekend. Which meant Alanna had to work today. No idea why – but they are busing all the teachers in Al Ain back to Abu Dhabi every day this work week for orientation. The bus ride there takes about an hour and a half, so Alanna will be gone about 10 hours every day! So… I was alone with Logan for a looooooong time today. He hasn’t really mastered the art of bottle feeding quite yet. So this morning he screamed for about 3 hours straight. And I meaned screamed. We tried to bottle 3 or 4 times, but he was once again having nothing of it. Maybe he’s Muslim and is trying to fast. Anyway, after a nap and a messy diaper (I think he needed to get that out), he finally took a whole bottle and slurped it all down. So at least I know he can do it. It will just take some time and patience to get him to do it without screaming first. I searched the internet and got a lot of nice tips, so that will help.
Tonight, Alanna and I went back to the mall because the main branch of the bank she will be using is located there. Because of Ramadan, the bank was open tonight from 9 to 11, as was the rest of the mall. Some stores, like the baby store we went in, stayed open until 2am. Crazy. Alanna thankfully was able to finally get a hold of her furniture alliance money. We used a little of it to by Logan one of those vibrating rocking chair thingamabobbers. He seems to like it so far.
We’re back in the hotel now and I’m gearing up for adventures in babysitting – day 2. Stay tuned.
