Back to School

Well, I’m here again.

After three months of mixed (as always) Calgary weather, finding replacements, saying goodbyes, buying things, selling things, and piles of red tape, I’m back in the UAE.

While it’s no USSR, it’s a heck of a place.

This is the place where taxis beckon you and will even reverse through on a busy street to pick you up. Witnessing a cement truck reverse to get out of said taxi’s way is truly icing on the cake. Speaking of cake, the desserts here might put me in dangerous risk of becoming one of those ugly fat expats you see struggling up a flight of stairs on their way to their villa.

Speaking of villas, I have found a place to live. Since losing the MBZ (Mohammed Bin Zayed City) apartment to a managerial decision, I was only prowl for new digs for approximately one day. Places to live here are skyrocketing in price – certainly loftier than Calgary in price and much smaller. This makes good real estate a luxury, so I feel pretty lucky to have found a couple of rooms in a nice villa located about 10 minutes drive from work. After driving 30 minutes from MBZ, this is way better. It’s getting fixed up as we speak, and I have an ever-improving optimism on its completion date scheduled for next week. I’m supposed to get a key today. My partner in crime also located a few rooms in the same villa. What my spot lacks in kitchen space, her’s makes up for in spades. Between the two of us, we should be living quite comfortably.

Hmmm… comfort. Now that I’ve experienced business class from Toronto to Abu Dhabi, I am finally enlightened. While jet lag still sunk in pretty well, my body was not ravaged or destroyed by a cramped middle seat and my mind was not driven to the brink due to lack of entertainment, hydration, food, or sleep. Think I’m spoiled? Think I’m weak? Think I’m a whiner? Well, how many overseas flights have you been on? How many flights over four hours do you take a year? I think one business class experience isn’t bad for me. Direct from Toronto is too far to not take business class.

Speaking of Toronto, I got to visit with Elizabeth Logan on the way over here. Everyone’s favorite Toronto engineer came out for breakfast and to hang out with a tired and smelly Curt and Val. She promised to visit in the next year. Let’s hope it happens! When she says something like that, she’s usually good for it. Her name is good that way.

Speaking of good names, I’m learning many new names here. Chidam Baranathan… Boopati Dharmalingam… My name seems so boring. My favorite client is still with us. Jafer!

I think I’ve learned a lot in the past few months. One skill I’ve started to hone is certainly “patience”. Having sat through several longstanding errands/accomplishments (some of them taking over a month) required to get out of Canada, I’ve got a little more of it these days. This is certainly an asset, as things tend to move rather slowly here. Many-an hour is spent waiting for somebody that promised to meet you an hour ago. Or provide you with something (food, a ride, etc). Or anything. That’s cool though, man. Cuz I got a little more patience now.

Well, that’s about all I have time for right now. Hopefully, this note finds everyone well. Thanks for all the nice messages, everyone. All is well here and it’s safe.

Curt