Across the Airwaves

A few weeks ago in one of my "What I'll Miss" installments (that I am behind on, I know...) I talked about the radio station I have enjoyed listening to over here: Dubai 92. Remember how I wrote that for a while I was pretty sure they were my only friends? Well now I have actually met a couple of the morning DJs. Here's how it went down:

The station is having a contest called "The Hook-Up." Listeners can call in and ask for help getting whatever it is they need. Really, anything. Even though I am pretty much pessimistic about winning radio contests, I even called in with a request--non-bakery type clothing. The second part of the contest is for people who can provide the chosen listener with a hook-up. The daily giver gets dinner for two at a nice restaurant and a chance to win a prize of 15,000 dirhams of free advertising. So as we listen to the radio each morning, I have been listening to see if the bakery would have an opportunity to assist.

Lo and behold after a few days, the DJs announce a request a British lady made for a space-themed birthday cake for her soon-to-be six year-old son. I immediately called the station and stated that we would be more than happy to help. Since we've had a few promotions with them lately, they were really glad that we volunteered. They also stated that they needed a bakery representative to present the cake plan to the little boy at the radio station. My boss said I could go, since it was my idea to help out.

Needless to say, I was pretty excited. I got in a cab the next morning and headed straight to Studio City (a part of Dubai where all the broadcast studios are). My appearance was a surprise to the mother and son. (Well, we were all in the studio, they didn't know who I was.) On air, the DJ's described the request, and then presented me, and this is where I got to talk into the microphone and present the cake idea to the family. The staff and I drew up a three-tiered cake with the top tier decorated as the sun, and the bottom-two decorated as our solar system with planets, stars, and spaceships. We also decided to throw in some alien cupcakes.


here is a photo from that day that I got off the station's Web site. I just colored my hair that dark, and I think it looks rather smashing.

It was so much fun! When I got back the staff all told me that I was now famous. The radio station played the clip a few times a day and I actually got to hear my voice. Or rather, what is apparently my voice because it did not sound like me. (Really, I sound like a Valley Girl with a lisp? I have a lisp?) But it was very cool to actually talk on the radio--and not just a call-in thing either. So that was my 15 minutes of fame.

I do want to post a picture of the cake, but right now my internet is out at home. I haven't figured out how to download my pictures to the work computer. (I swear, everyday it's a new method.) It turned out great, and the family really liked it.

And if we all believe in good Karma, maybe this good deed means that my Hook-Up request will be granted!

Kinda Don't Get What All The Fuss Is About

Author's note: This post is heavy on Mormon culture and doctrine. Please let me know if you would like any sort of clarification.

Maybe I've spent too much time in New York/abroad/hanging out with foreigners/under-employed, but I don't really have a problem with the new Healthcare Bill/Law thingy. It's probably not a perfect plan, but it is a step in the right direction. For some reason, which I don't totally understand, it is a touchy subject. In my head I think what's so wrong about helping people get health insurance? Are people upset because the government is, heaven forbid, forcing people to have health insurance? (Aren't we mandated by law to carry auto insurance? No one seems to be bothered by this.)

I think the biggest issue that freedom-loving people have is that this health plan smacks of socialism. And with recent poor choices the government and large corporations have made during the financial crisis, I can see that maybe certain factions of the American public might be a bit concerned that this country is headed down the road that leads to sickles and hammers on our flag. I'm sorry, but I think that is a little extreme.

I've been trying to balance my opinions about socialism and the Mormon doctrine of a Zion community, i.e. the United Order. So I've been trying to do some research into what church leaders have taught about the Law of Consecration/United Order and the political/economic theory of socialism. Now, this isn't PhD level of research here, but these are my first thoughts.

On a very basic level, the two concepts have more or less the same goal (don't you love my vagueness) in providing a level financial equality for everyone. The difference is in the undertaking: socialism is equality by law, and Law of Consecration is by choice. Naturally, freedom-lovers everywhere would prefer to give by choice. And why not? Feelings of compassion and charity make us feel good and want to give more, as well as make us closer to God. However, feelings of selfishness tend to overcome desires to good to fellowmen, and thus socialistic ideals kick in to force people to give to others.

In my small research I came across talks from church leaders Marion G. Romney and Ezra Taft Benson that decry the dangers of socialism, and in the case of Romney's talk compared it with the United Order. Both talks were moving and informative, but it didn't make me want to write my congressman a scathing letter against healthcare reform. Both talks were written in the 1960's, and although I have little knowledge about the era, I do know that our country was reeling from the effects of the Red Scare and McCarthyism, and at the time socialism was indeed the Big Bad Wolf knocking at our door. Romney mentioned his fear for our country after watching many European nations adopt socialist ideals into their government. Scandinavian countries are indeed socialist, but not in the way of pre-WWII Germany, the USSR, or China. They certainly do pay a heaping amount in taxes (70%), but don't live under the rule of tyrannical dictators. Instead everyone gets to go to college and has free healthcare. True, Great Britain, France, Canada, and Japan have socialized programs like healthcare, but capitalism is still alive (although maybe not well) in all those, and other, industrialized nations. So while it looked that they were heading straight into Marxist ideals, it appears that a balance was struck.

That is the benefit of a two-party system, most likely: creating a balance of finding ways to take care of basic needs while watch-guarding the loss of certain freedoms. (And I am upset that both sides couldn't/wouldn't try harder to come up with a bipartisan plan.) So the question in my head that remains is: does the new healthcare law really limit our freedoms?

I don't have time to look at all news outlet's coverage of the Bill, and it is hard to find news providers that have unbiased views of the plan, and can explain in simple terms what it means to each individual. To me, it appears that government would still prefer us to get insurance through an employer. (And I don't know too many people who have declined that kind of coverage because it limited a personal freedom.) What is needed, and where the bill is (hopefully) headed, is providing a way for people to get affordable insurance if they can't get it through an employer. I've been in that situation. I understand that need. Would I have purchased a plan that was affordable? Hell, yes. $600/month (those COBRA rates given to me when I lost my job) is not affordable. The proposed exchange suggests I could pay no more than $220/ month. I could have paid for that.

Of course no one likes the thought of having to pay more taxes, and it looks like the wealthy are going to have to once-again pay the brunt of it. Luckily, I don't really fall into that category. However, after experiencing the life without health insurance and worrying about paying for my monthly prescription and/or catastrophic health problems, I feel okay about paying a bit more to avoid those concerns for myself and for people close to me. I feel that not worrying about potential bankruptcy due to staggering medical bills (for me or anyone) is a personal freedom. That is the attitude I hope to have when we have to fully live the Law of Consecration.

A friend pointed out this site:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/what-health-bill-means-for-you/
I think it is helpful in explaining the plan in the way that applies to your own financial situation.

I don't know/care if you agree with the above or not. This has been weighing on my mind, and I thought I would share how I came up with my choice to agree with the healthcare plan. I am sure it is not the perfect plan, but like I said above it is a step in the right direction.

After you got done reading this, you probably thinking the same thing as me: Pulitzer, right?

It's a Good Thing I Only Went to Global Village Twice

I have already mentioned Global Village, but in the interest of putting more pictures on my blog, I thought I'd talk about my second trip...which took place probably a month ago.

This particular trip I actually got to stay a bit longer since we went the night before a day off. We were in a much smaller group (5 total), and were able to easily split into smaller groups when necessary. We started out in India where I fell in like with another carpet, but I refrained from buying it. I got other stuff instead.

On our way to the Turkey pavilion, we ran into this guy who was sell cups of juice. He carries the juice on his back, and then pours it into cups with a long spout that you can kind of see off his left shoulder.

I need to get rid of that sweater.

The best part of Turkey were these fabulous bright dishes. I wanted to buy arm-fulls, but alas they are a little hard to pack...plus a little hard on the wallet.

The ladies in the photo that follows are real Emirati women. Look closely at the gold masks on their faces. This is an old tradition that mostly the older women still wear. I had to be very stealthy; they don't like getting their pictures taken.

Of course, we had to go to China and get some pearls. Again.

Jenn, Jennie, and the pearl guy who gave us better deals than the last time we were there. He remembered us.

Toria didn't get any pearls. She was a trooper to stick around while we were making up our minds.

In the West Africa pavilion I made some Senegalese friends with the the only Waloff phrase I know: Nagadeff! (It's a greeting.) They let me play with the drums. I think they assumed that then I would buy one. It wasn't nearly tempting enough...not like the real alligator skin Kelly bag look-alike. Which I also did not buy.

All of the nekkid lady statues had to be covered. heehee.

Sadly, even though we were there for hours, I still didn't see everything that I wanted. The good news is that I hear I can find a lot of the same wares in other parts of Dubai. And with much better prices.

What I'll Miss #11

One of the best parts of living in a Muslim country is listening to the call to prayer about five times a day. Well, the one that goes off while I am sleeping is probably my least favorite call to prayer...

The best way to hear the call to prayer (I am sure there is a prettier Arabic word to use here, but I don't know it) is walking around when it goes off. Since there are mosques on practically every street, the mass of minarets combine to make a beautiful yet slightly haunting sound. Because the five prayers are essential to the Muslim faith, many public places like malls and airports also broadcast the call to prayer at the appropriate times. These places are also equipped with a small mosque for people to perform those rites. The Dubai TV stations will even tell its viewers when it is time to pray.

The mall where the bakery is located does have prayer rooms, but we don't get the broadcast call to prayer. It is rather surprising as I would say the majority of the patrons are Muslim. I feel like sometimes I forget about it, and last night as I walked home from the gym, I was reminded how much I like it. Prayer is an important part of my faith too. It is nice to have a reminder to pray more often.

To get an idea of this music that plays all across the Middle East, I have posted a nice YouTube clip I found of the call to pray in the evening at the Dubai Creek. The camera work is shaky, but you are meant to listen more than look.

The Rumors Are True... I Do Own a Camera

I am not very good at posting pictures. The internet here is a bit slow and it takes, I swear, a little less than a kajillion hours to post an image. But I had some time tonight (I'm in between books) and thought I'd post a few pictures. Maybe I can make it a goal to post just a few each night to get caught up.

First things first. Do you remember that story I posted about my neighbor who took his falcon for walks? He also takes the bird for rides in his car. It just so happened that he and I (plus the falcon) entered the building at the same time, and I just so happened to remember my camera. I asked if I could take a picture, and he agreed. He removed the hood from his bird and I tried to get a good shot. To be honest, the picture would have been better had the hood been kept on, because the bird of prey wouldn't keep her head still.

Pretty awesome, nonetheless.

You know how on many cheesy personals ads, people usually state that they like long walks on the beach? Well I took a long walk on the beach on Valentine's Day. Pretty cheesy, eh. Maybe it's a good thing I was by myself. The tide was low, and I was fortunate to come across a teeny little tide pool filled with shells, mollusks, and a few small crabs. It is pretty extraordinary to come across any type of sea life in Dubai due to the ecological mess caused by the Palm Island.

This is my favorite shot from my walk. I actually saw a couple of live starfish slightly imbedded in the sand. I tossed them both back into the Gulf and thought that perhaps I made a difference to it's life. hahaha.

This tiny crab didn't really like it that I picked him up. But he was so small, and it reminded me of the little crabs we would dig up at Kayak Point (in Washington).

There were indeed living creatures inside the shells.

No, I am not taking pictures of shirtless guys for kicks. My camera doesn't zoom as much as I would wish, but if you look closely you will note that he is sitting on a wooden horse-type thing. It turns out that he is a polo player, and a couple times a week he comes down here and takes practice shots on the beach.

On one of my days off, my friend Joey from Swaziland took me to lunch at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. Her husband works for the Jumeirah hotel group, and thus she gets in to such cool places. We ate at an Italian place, and I had a pretty tasty pizza.

The hotel is shaped like a wave.

and had funky camels walking about. Or standing about, rather.

The restaurant had a view of some of the little boats parked in the marina. I am jesting about the small part. I believe the big one is owned by some wealthy Russian fellow.

We also had a great view of the famous 7-star hotel, the Burj Al Arab. It is supposed to look like a sail, but from some angles it looks like a giant cockroach.

So there you have it. Proof that I live here, and proof that I own a camera. Alert the press.

What I'll Miss Installment #10

Now that I've vented a few of my work-related frustrations, I need to balance that with a "What I'll Miss" segment. This will be brief, as I have a kajillion cupcakes to ice and if I am at the computer too long I will be tempted to look at Web sites that will tell me who won which Oscar.

While watching the red carpet, did you notice how smooth and hairless the actress' arms are? I bet they pay a pretty penny to get themselves all waxed for the big day. Waxing in the U.S. is a little too expensive. New York wasn't bad, but in a place like Spokane, where I imagine that very few of the population wax, the waxing fees will be quite steep: $70 for legs, $50 for arms...

Waxing in the Middle East is cheap. It is considered unsanitary to be so hairy, so there are places to wax off unnecessary hair pretty much all over the place. Sure, the fancy salons may a be a bit pricey, but the regular ones are quite reasonable.

For example, last Wednesday I went and got my arms, legs, and..um...other places waxed for a mere 180 dirhams. That's $49.00. I don't think I could wax myself at home for so little. And trust me, there are some places that shouldn't be waxed at home. (And I am very glad I figured that out before I tried it at home.)

May I vent?

At the end of the workday tomorrow, I will only have three weeks left in my job. HOOOOO-RAAAAY!!!! However, these will be the longest three weeks of my life. I hate this stupid bakery.

All I want is consistent days off--once a week would be nice! All I want is to be able to go with friends when they plan a day-trip to go to Musendam, Oman to go boating, watch wild dolphins, and swim in the Indian ocean. All I want is to know with certaintly that I can't go a few days in advance and not the night before. All I want is to be able to stay out late with the few friends I have instead of having to be concerned about getting in bed on time considering I have to wake up at 5:30 every morning.

I just wanted to watch the Oscars live this morning (4:00am). Which I was supposed to have off, but here I am at work (6:30am). The channels are showing a rebroadcast tonight at 9:00pm (I go to bed at 10:00pm and if I don't I feel nauseated all the next day), and my friends are having an Oscar party to celebrate. I can stay up late and watch it only if I can get tomorrow off--or even just a few hours in the morning. Note the important word "if." That means I will be told that I can take time off but will most likely get a call at 7:30pm informing me that I still have to come in.

Do I sound a little whiny? So, what.

Future Lunch Lady

So the Dubai Municipality came by and told us that instead of really cute scarves and bandanas, we now have to contain our hair with hairnets.

Yep.

Why don't they confiscate my tweezers and tattoo "spinster" on my forehead too while they're at it.

What I'll Miss Installment #9

Two in one day! This will be quick because it has to be said. I will miss Masafi waters and juices.
Let me start with the waters. Sure their basic water is pretty tasty, not Volvic tasty, but good. What I prefer are the waters lightly flavored with a touch of jasmine, strawberry, peach, lemon, or lemon/mint. Especially the lemon mint. Sometimes I buy it for my Friday treat.



They also make some tasty juices. I never thought I would like Honedew Melon juice, but I do. Boy do I. I am also a fan of the pomegranate, raspberry, and acai juice too.

This is why I am not a fan of the no-more-than-4-fluid-ounces-in-a-carry-on rule. I could attempt to pack some in my suitcase, but wouldn't that just be tempting the travel gods? And we all know that they like to have their fun with me.

What I'll Miss Installment #8

Seriously, I will miss some more things about Dubai, and I have pictures to prove it! However, I only feel motivated to write while I am at work laboring hard to not have to do any work. (All the photos are at home.) While I am at home, I only feel motivated to read. (Still working on What the Dog Saw, but have added Rudyard Kipling's Kim to the mix along with three Elizabeth Gaskell novels.) When did I become such a bookworm? No worries, I like the development.

Part of this newly discovered literary feast comes from the fact that I am tired of television. The other, and larger part, rests solely on the shoulders of a book group I joined with some ladies from church. I like this book group and I am going to miss it.

Instead of being assigned a book to read, we all bring a couple of books, say why we like them, and then we choose what we are individually going to read from the other offerings. This is a pretty perfect plan. You get to choose the book you want to read instead having to submit to the will of someone who likely has differing tastes...and well, you know where this leads: illiteracy. Since the group is a collection of interests and personalities, I get to read things that I probably wouldn't have chosen and/or found, like Girls of Riyadh or the aforementioned Michael Gladwell book. (However I am getting a little tired of books about the Middle East.)
I want to look cool to the other ladies, so I try to choose semi-smart novels and bring books by obscure authors.. (Like when I lived in New York, and chose intelligent-looking novels to read on the subway. I never said I wasn't shallow.)

The last thing that I am going to miss about book group is, of course, the participants. I wish this group existed when I first arrived because I have met a lot of fun people through it. It has given me at least one more thing per month to look forward to. And it has opened the door for me to get invited to other social gatherings like baby and bridal showers.

I may just have to start my own once I get to Spokane. Want to join?