DID YOU KNOW - *aka Random Thoughts/Facts from the Middle East

Did you know:

• that alarm clocks are unnecessary here?  The 4 am call to prayer blasting from the speakers of every mosque in the city each morning is 100% more effective in waking you up than any screeching buzzer will ever be.

• that there is a turn on switch for absolutely everything? Not just for turning on lights, but a switch to turn on the water, another to turn on the hot water, one to turn the ignition to the stove, and there is even one on every single outlet.  Also, that there is no such thing as having an electrical outlet in the bathroom!?  Want to shave, curl your hair, or use an electric toothbrush?  Forget it!  But each bathroom does come equipped with a bidet and a foot wash just in case you were feeling in need of a quick clean.

• that in order to get your driver's license in Qatar you have to pass an eye exam where they make you read a row of letters in the tiniest size possible?  But the truth of the matter is that they should really test how well you can see the giant Land Cruisers that are constantly about to run you over.

• that running outside in temperatures of 30-35 degrees centigrade at 80-90% humidity is really, really hard? Oh yes, and this is at night!  Also, that the writer of this blog has foolishly signed up to run in the Dubai marathon on January 22nd and consequently has to run almost every day in that heat by choice?  And furthermore, that the driving in this city is too dangerous for running on or along the streets and that there are hardly any parks so there is really only one safe place to run?  It is a 6 kilometer long crowded path along the ocean where all you can do is run back and forth until you hit the distance you want to run.

• that maps are rendered useless because the roads are constantly changing due to the fact that the ENTIRE city is one MASSIVE construction site?

• that they pretty much don’t sell tampons here? I had to go to three stores before I found a place that sold them. They are OB without an applicator and I am not happy about it. I should have known better and bought like a years supply of Tampax Pearls before I left. God you know it is bad when you miss your tampons.

• that the have more shopping and more malls than the whole world could possibly need?  Also that one of the malls is modeled after the city of Venice and has a canal throughout it with boats you can ride in? (promise to post pictures soon)  Side note: all the Qatari women carry the most ludicriously expensive handbags I have ever seen.  Talk about purse envy; this girl has got a bad case.  These bags make my Coach and Marc Jacobs look cheap!

• that truly it is NOT terrible living here? It is just a bit ridiculous/comical at times.

Super Suit

Big Alaskan glacier:

Check.

Beers cooled by glacial ice:

Check.

Successful field testing in wild Alaskan wilderness of sick super suit:

Check. Check.

Super sick super suit is too hot for near-arctic Alaskan wilderness conditions:

Check. Awesome.

Flippin Awesome Flyers

I would like to meet the geniuses behind these posters and shake their hands.  Well done.

Special thanks to JM for finding these gems and passing them on.

A Perfect Ten

As of today there are:

 *  Only 10 more days until my fiance' and I are FINALLY reunited at last

 *  Only 10 more days of work on my current project assignment

Just wanted to put that out there.

_____________________________________________________________________

In other news, there was a dust storm unlike any other in Sydney, Australia yesterday.  While it had major impacts on commuting and respiratory health; it did result in some pretty awesome pictures.   Here are a few of my favorites:

http://www.khaleejtimes.ae/images/syd3_230909.jpg

http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/environment/dust-turns-sydney-sky-red/

What you are seeing is the light of dawn reflecting off of the dust particles.   These photos are real and not altered.

My Middle East Must-Haves

In preparation for the big move, I went on a MAJOR - they put a hold on my credit card thinking that somebody stole it kind of major - shopping spree to buy essentials that will hopefully "work" in my new work locale.  Pictured below are just a few of my purchases care of Banana Republic, JCrew, and The Limited.

Due to the culture of my new home, I will no longer be allowed to expose my shoulders or my knees (and the leg above them) in public.  In addition to the clothes pictured above, I also purchased a slew of stylish wraps, pashminas, and cardigans (I could not find picutres) to help a bit with the covering up.  Most of the purchases I made are in light colors and super-lightweight fabric due to the extremely hot temperatures in Qatar.  Hopefully, my wadrobe will be acceptible and they won't stone or flog me as my dear co-worker Lambo lovingly pointed out to me at 6:20am in the morning last week (not the best way to approach me in the morning). No worries  - Qatar is MUCH, MUCH more liberal than it's Islamic neighbors...or so I am told.  Guess we will have to wait and see!

White Girl Dance Moves

The best thing about being a twenty-something chic is that when you are out on the dance floor you think you are the hottest stuff on the planet:

clearly.

and you know all the sickest.dance.moves.ever.

All of which include pointing;

Lots of pointing.

and singing,

and hugging,

and most importantly, gang signs.

Oh, the white girl dance skills. Awesome.

Seattle Sunset

Sunset over Pike's Place Market

Sick Macbook

If you are a Mac owner, you know that your computer is more than just a computer.  Heck you don't even call it your "computer" or "laptop" you call it your "Mac" or "Macbook," (and even in some cases your baby, ahem).  You feel your Mac is like an extension of yourself.  You never thought you could love an inanimate object until you owned a Mac.

Well, I am feeling a little less than whole at the moment because after 2.5 years of ownership I have had my *first* ever problem with my Macbook Pro.  And when I say first ever, I mean it, I haven't even had minor problems like freezing or programs quitting unexpectedly with my Mac.  For those of you who have owned an IBM or Dell or any other Window's based computer; you know that not having even a minor glitch in 2.5 years is like a miracle.  I mean being victim of viruses and minor software glitches is almost a stardard daily thing in the Window's world.  But I digress...

Anyway, my optical drive died mid upgrade to Snow Leopard; so the upgrade disk is stuck in the drive.  Thankfully, I have Apple-Care and parts and labor for replacing the drive are FREE (for those of you that don't know apple-care is a 3 year complete warranty on your Mac for the cost of $300).  Well let me tell you, the cost of replacing the drive and the service would be WELL over that $300.  Plus they are upgrading my RAM and doing a "once-over" check on my Mac to make sure everything is up to par.  That's what I call service.

So my Macbook has been in the Mac hospital since last Friday and due to my work schedule I am not able to pick it up until this Friday.  Ughh!  I am seriously having withdrawls!  Plus, I had a killer weekend in Seattle and want to post a picture-filled blog post about it...but I can't upload the pictures from my camera without my Mac.  Bummer.

Goodbye Dear Friend

This post goes out to my beloved Toyota Cam -

Dude, you've been a totally awesome & reliable ride.

Thanks for the many sick adventures you enabled me to go on.

Thanks for never getting sick or having issues,

even though you were born in 1994.

Thanks for letting me keep that ridiculous (but awesome) roof box on you 24/7...

From the many long drives from hometown, NJ to our first home-away-from-home at Virginia Tech

To our epic journey cross country from NJ to San Fran to the wilderness of Washington;

We have shared many memories together.

You didn't even protest when I made you sit out a year while I enjoyed city living at Berkeley

(Public transportation has got nothing on you!)

You have done me proud.

You will be missed.

Enjoy your new home!

PS - You really do look awesome and not at all ridiculous with that roof box, no matter what the fiance' says.

The Living Volcano

So moving can be quite stressful.  But trying to coordinate two moves (one from Alaska & one from Washington) to a new home (which we don't have an address for yet) in a foreign country is BEYOND stressful!  All of my life plans have been totally distrupted.  Vacations I have planned have to be changed if not eliminated, my wedding plans have to be completely altered.  Yes, I am very excited about the big move and even more thrilled that I will finally get to live in the same place as my fiance', but getting there is quite the battle.

Lately, I have felt like I am going to explode.  Heck, I have had quite a few mini-eruptions (read: warning the volcano is about to blow!) already.  I don't want to have a Mount St. Helens style eruption from all the stress anytime soon.  So I have resolved to just deal with one move related task a day and try to roll with the punches.  Also, I think I might take up heavy drinking.  There is only about a month left until we leave for Qatar, so I think I am going to try to make an itemized list of all the things that we have to do (at least that I can think of) and I am just going to try to knock one off at a time.  Hopefully this will help reduce my stress level and keep me organized.  Right?

PS - Just came back to Washington from a trip home to NJ.  Will post about that visit soon! Have any of you been to the new Yankee Stadium?  Awesome!  But more on that later...