Dubai/Sharjah

I'm leaving Sharjah/Dubai in about 24 hours to go to India where I'll be for 10 days...So about 11 days until I'm in Karachi!

I thought I'd write a little summary about my time in Sharjah and Dubai. Sharjah is the town in which my two uncles and their families live. Most of my time was spent them, going back and forth from one house/family to the other. Some of my time was also spent sightseeing. It was clear in my mind that I wanted to spend time with family over sightseeing and the balance that was struck was perfect.

My impressions of family:
It was good to meet people that have ties to your roots. It's so easy to feel like you're an island and that your connections to others are optional or special when convenient. I had some sweet times with various family members and the sweetness comes from each of us having a special place in our hearts for each other. It's a feeling of being included - which is a concept I ponder a lot as a special educator.

My grandfather and I watched movies, did the morning paper word puzzles together (he's much faster than I), used the internet together (he wanted to send bday cards to relatives but the touch pad on his grandson's laptop wasn't sensitive to his touch - we should adjust that), and every day he made me sit in his massage chair as if it was my duty to get a full body massage without fail.

My grandmother told me stories of people in her life, mostly at the school that she and my grandfather founded. We talked in the Happy Home Nursery (the nursery that they also founded). The story of Pushpa who later became Zahra and eventually hung herself was so tragic and beared a lot of resemblance to the something that was happening with another staff person during my stay. She also taught me some tricks in the kitchen. Putting dhai in moong daal makes it not separate into lentils and water! Making a vagaar with extra oil makes it extra tasty. You can blend a watermelon with its seeds and serve it's juice for a refreshing drink.

I chatted with my cousin Almas Appa from whom I learned what it might be like to have a teenage son...

and with Danish, that teenage son, that didn't seem so difficult because I was his "friend" and not his mom. He loves to write poetry and I showed him how to start a blog to share it with others. Sweet kid.

My uncle, his wife, and two kids were amazing. They went about their normal conversations and behaviors without batting an eye. I felt like a fly on the wall as I observed and made notes about my mental case study on them. My end conclusion was that it works for this family. They nag and annoy but they also laugh and love. So it's all good. The two kids, Zohaib and Aqsa, were precious. It was as if they had known me their entire life. We fell in love immediately and played with open hearts. I used my special ed and Love and Logic tactics on them and enjoyed their responses which weren't always ideal. After holding their dirty hands to cross the street, keeping Aqsa warm in Ski Dubai with both arms around her little body (a ridiculous ski resort built in an enormous shopping mall), helping Zohaib sqeeze his feet into shoes for the upcoming school year, I felt an ounce of what it might be like to be a parent. They made me forget my hangups and just give out of love.

One weird occurance happened at the mall. One man froze in the middle of an open plaza in "the thinker" pose while another timed him with his wrist watch. People gathered around to see what was going on. Maybe the guy was a wanna-be-spray-painted-silver-dude that you see in big cities. A huge circle formed around them including people who were snapping photos with small, personal cameras and those who had large paparrazi-style cameras. A security guard couldn't get the poser and his timer to move away. Copy-cat posers began to emerge in the crowd and sub-circles were formed. Eventually, before security reinforcements were able to reach the scene, the main attraction guys moved on their own and everyone dispersed with their own vivid ideas of why the two had put on that act. My uncle claimed it was a form of yoga. I have yet to understand what that was all about, but I found myself thinking like Yogesh, not wanting to be a sheep, and walking away. It's funny how the longer you're with someone, the more ingrained and intertwined your ideas become.

Impressions of Sharjah and Dubai
All I have to say is that I haven't been anywhere like the USA. Its got finished edges almost everywhere whereas Dubai is still the east with its extremes - super polished edges and many rough edges. Love the diversity, the eastern flair, women in black burqas with high heels and meticulous makeup, men in garb that distinguishes whether they are Arab, from Oman, Saudi, etc., gorgeous mosques on every corner, women in crop tops too...

"Dor"

I just saw an amazing Hindi film called "Dor" which means "rope". The main character, Zeenat, was inspiring. The characteristics she possesses, her clear-headedness, her decisiveness, her strength, are perfectly packaged in her portrayal of her role...I was very INSPIRED. She values her time here in this world and won't let societal rules stand in her way of living life the way she beleives it should be led, every single day. Amazing movie.

Zeenat is the girl on the far right.

Writing from Dubai

I am safely in Dubai. The flights weren't bad at all. I flew from SD to Houston in 4 hours. Waited there for several hours and then got on an Emiraes flight to Dubai. I'm here with relatives who are loving and caring. I've gotten out and seen some sights, but my real goal was to spend family time with them, especially with Hasan Uncle, my paternal grandfather's brother.

It's hot hot hot. We stay at home in the AC during the day and hit the city at night. Tonight I saw a Bollywood flick:

It was okay. Entertaining but not highly recommended. BUT I have to say, I love Bollywood movies!!

We hit some sights, but the best two were the Gold Market called "Gold Souk":

and walked around the man-made lakes:

I didn't take these pics by the way :)

No jet lag. All is good. I have internet access until Aug 29.

9 Days To Go!

My dear friend Deborah made me a poster for the shower at school and I loved the quotes she chose:

Two Weeks To Go!

It's now August and I've had a full and fun summer which has revolved around transition. We've finished the adoption paperwork, planned a 10 year anniversary celebration for ourselves, promoted henna/spa parties, and almost finished packing up our apartment and bags for my trip.

I am so grateful that I was urged to travel to Pakistan in 1995 by my father. That trip has prepared me for this one. Most importantly, my last trip has taught me about the culture of Pakistanis - how life moves at a slower pace, efficiency isn't a priority, connections mean everything. Also, it gave me confidence. If I was able to survive and enjoy my past adventure, I'll surely be able to handle this one. Again, past events have prepared me for the future.

My rough itinerary:
Aug 22 - leave San Diego for Dubai where I will visit two uncles and their families
Aug 29 - head to India to see my in-laws
Sept 10 - arrive in Karachi and stay for as long as necessary!

I'll be staying with my sweet cousin, Kiran and her extended family.

Only 11 more days until my departure!

Some henna pics of my summer:
Marjolein, a tourist from the Netherlands, adding henna to her summer visit.
After henna paste was removed - photo sent from Netherlands a few days later.