Hurricane Abdulaziz

Ever since we landed in Kuwait we have heard "Be ready for March -- sandstorm season."  We did not spend too much time thinking about "sandstorm season" nor what that meant.  Now, all of a sudden, it is March and we are fully realizing that we have entered the season that gets so much hype in the middle east -- the sky is a continued orange color, there is always a wind blowing, and the booger count has greatly increased.

Last week we set out on a Friday morning for a nice 12 mile run.  It was an "out and back" along the gulf that we have run many times before.  This time we noticed that the wind seemed a little stronger than usual and the gulf which is usually calm and tranquil had actual waves.  As we reached the turn-around point, we were fully engulfed in what Adam named "Hurricane Abdulaziz."  The wind was so strong that no matter how much we pushed forward, we made very little progress.  We often looked like cartoon characters with our legs spinning and no forward progress made.  We also received a sand-blasting with each gust of wind.  At times, the sand was so strong and painful we had to turn our backs into it until it passed.  And, we had 6 miles to go running into this wind.

By the time we got home, exhausted and yet very proud of surviving the storm, we got to laughing.  Our bodies were covered in sand and dirt and we were digging grime out of our hair for days.  We guess we now understand the concept of sandstorms and how to check for them before heading out on long runs.

Adam's face was black from the dust and sweat.  Good thing he was not wearing his contacts because we have heard horror stories of contacts + dust.

No, no.  That's not a tan.  That's a dirt line from after taking off the socks.

Once again, Heidi wishes her legs were nice and brown but more from sun than dirt.

Every part of our bodies were dirt crusted.  You should have seen the eye boogers that kept popping up for the next few days.  Classy!

Goodbye Dubai

We know you have anxiously been awaiting a post detailing our third and final day in Dubai.  On the edges of your seats ... biting your nails ... staying awake at night with anticipation.  Well, to satisfy your desires and help you sleep like a baby ...

What we did -- a photo journey through our last full day in Dubai.

The first stop (after a large cup of coffee at a little local joint called Starbucks) -- The Dubai Grande Mosque.  So pretty.  So clean.

Stop 2:  The Lime Tree -- a cafe that serves delicious, healthy, organic breakfasts.  They have something like it in Kuwait -- er, wait ... Nope.  That's just McDonalds.

@Stop2 -- Adam enjoying his breakfast and huge french press of real coffee.

Stop 3:  Emirates Mall to check out Ski Dubai.  It was going to be a "to do" till we saw the price.  "To Don't."

Looking at Ski Dubai through the window.  It looked cold in there, Pop.

Stop 4: Now consuming some delicious Indonesian noodles.  Do you see  theme?  Consumption, consumption, consumption.

Stop #5:  Checking out a 3 story waterfall inside a mall. 

Stop #6:  Back to our hotel for dinner and to try to consume the remainder of our duty free purchase.  Hey, that stuff was not making it home with us.  Whiskey-ginger time.

Shotzee.

Do we really have to go back to Kuwait?!?

Dubai -- Part Deux

Our trip to Dubai recap continues ...  The second day of our trip was just as great as the first.  We tried to make the most of the city and enjoy a mix of tourist sites, indulge in culinary delights and marvel at the parts of Dubai that are so vastly different from our home just an hour flight away.

The highlights of day two in DXB included:

1)  A long, beautiful run in a park about 1.5k from our hotel.  While in the park we marveled at the greenery, the fact that there were garbage cans and that YES ... they were actually used, and that it was actually quiet and peaceful.  Imagine!

2) Taking the public metro to a replica of historic Dubai to enjoy a delicious lunch and stop in at an art studio which is a non-profit that works with adults with disabilities.  We were able to sit and visit with many amazing adult artists who felt valued, appreciated, and like they were making a difference in the art scene.  (Note -- we did get grilled on our Harry Potter and Twilight knowledge by a fabulous young man with Autism named Alex.  We are proud to say that as fast as Alex could ask trivia questions, we were able to answer them.  Nailed it)!

3) Taking an evening walk back through aforementioned park in the evening just to get out and move in nature without cars running you down, people throwing garbage out said cars at you, or without dodging hundreds of feral cats.

4)  Enjoying a happy hour in a hotel bar (that's where you can legally buy alcohol in Dubai -- in hotels) while watching soccer and smiling over our $15 pint o' beer.

5)  Heading back to our hotel to enjoy pizza and Yahtzee in our hotel room.  Before falling into bed at the ripe hour of nearly 10:30 pm.  Hey ... old habits die hard.

Part of the "historic" Dubai.  It is a recreated city representing what old Dubai would have looked like.

Delicious lunch at a vegetarian restaurant.  We were surprised that ancient Emiratis were vegetarians.  (Lie).

A method for cooling homes.  It is still used in some buildings today.

Commence mock-photo shoot.  We just could not get over the feeling we were on some large movie set.

Lunch in the courtyard of an old villa.  So beautiful and relaxing and some of the coolest bathrooms we have ever seen.

Adam's photo shoot.

Enjoying a cocktail (and some map reading) on our hotel balcony.

Walking through the park.  Adam made friends with this large cat.

Heidi marveling at all the clean, green grass with no litter nor used needles just lying around.

Another friend Adam made.  Everyone cool hangs out in Dubai parks.

This beer was legit -- not bootlegged in a large 21L water bottle with "near beer" and yeast.

Keepin' it classy -- Papa John's pizza and salad in our hotel.  It was about one of the only options we could actually afford.  Dubai is costly.

... and delicious German chocolate cake from Magnolia Bakery.  Perfect way to end day 2.

Dubai Day 1

As mentioned in our last post, it was just Liberation/National Day here in Kuwait. While that means days of celebrations for Kuwaitis, it meant a five day weekend for us. We had heard that there would be a wide variety of tantalizing activities for us if we decided to stay in country. We were promised drag racing up Gulf Road, a country wide water fight that lasted for days and did not take into account willing participation, the worst traffic ever, along with many other things. As good as all of those things sounded we opted to leave Kuwait and liberate ourselves from the mayhem.

Our liberation of choice was a trip to Dubai. Dubai as a destination has been on our radar for awhile. Now, if asked if we could explain why it is on our radar, not sure if we could do that. We had always heard that it is this strange city of the future and that it has sprung up just over the last ten years. With not a huge agenda we set out to explore Dubai and see what it had to offer.

After a evening of travel we arrived into Dubai safe and sound. Our first stop was at the duty free to pick up some beverages since we had a feeling that we might get thirsty from our sightseeing. We tasted a few of our beverages upon arrival at our hotel just to make sure that the Jim Beam that we had purchased was not poison, or a mirage. Good news, it was neither. With a little burboun in our bellies we headed to bed as we had a big day.

We slept in nice an late on our first day of vacation until 4:30. We had signed up to participate in the Dubai Desert Run 10k race and had to get ourselves out to the starting line. Flash forward a 40 minute cab ride into the desert and we are at the starting line. The race was a overall great success. It was a beautiful morning, we made great time, and there were camels running beside us. At one point in time during the race Heidi commented out loud, "camels, really?? camels? what is my life?" After crossing the finish line and receiving our medals (you have to love a race where everyone medals), we rehydrated with a cup of coffee and got a cab back to the city.

The rest of day one was spent just the way it should be. We were able to go out to a great lunch and enjoy a meal that revolved heavy around pork and beer while sitting outside in a wonderful and green setting. We took a serious mid day nap and followed that by an evening of exploring downtown Dubai. In an evening we saw the worlds tallest building, saw an amazing water show, and then rode home in maybe the worlds most crowded metro. Overall it was a wonderful way to start our trip.

Day two will be on the way tomorrow.

Duty free shopping in Dubai makes Adam a very happy guy.

Dubai has a clean, efficient, and useful metro. It became our way to navigate the city.

Post Desert Race face. All smiles with our medals.

After our race we headed to the Irish Village to refuel and to partake in all activities that are illegal in Kuwait. Heidi rocked the free hat like nobody's business.

The Burj Khalifa made Adam feel even shorter than he normally does.

Heidi waiting for the water show to start outside of the Burj.

Even if the water show was only about 39 seconds long, it was still cool.

National & Liberation Days

Currently Kuwait is celebrating two very important national holidays -- National Day and Liberation Day.  Due to February 25 and 26th being important days for the Kuwaiti people, we have been given a very long (5 day) weekend.  On Thursday our school hosted a celebration for all the students and staff to honor the great nation of Kuwait and their liberation from Iraq.  To show our support for the country we now call home, we headed out to our local convenience store to stock up on Kuwait attire.  Thursday morning we rolled into school ready to celebrate only to find our school awash in Kuwait flag colors and national dress (little 4 year olds in full dishdashas?  Yes please!).  We fully enjoyed the mayhem of the day and even more fully enjoyed the quitting bell ringing to signal the start of our five day weekend.  Happy Liberation, indeed.

Adam in his Kuwait polo.  One sleeve has an embroidered 25 and the other a 26.  Classy.

Heidi showing that we are all a piece of the Kuwait puzzle.  Despite her shirt being ridiculously ugly, it received a lot of compliments.

Some of the girls so very excited to celebrate the holidays.  Note:  not one of them is actually Kuwaiti but any excuse to wear fun clothes and eat excessive amounts of sugar at school is welcomed.

These second graders know how to rock their National/Liberation Day gear.

Heidi found her shirt twin. 

Little Mohammed.  He can't spell his full name yet but he can sing the national anthem like whoa!

Old News

You know you have acclimated to life in Kuwait when these cars parked outside your _____ (gym, grocery store, school, falafel stand, road-side flea market), do not phase you anymore.  Look twice?  No thanks!  We've seen better.

When you can afford this car you park in the "no parking zone" at the gym and just take the $30 ticket.  NBD.

No, no.  Don't worry.  There is a helmet to wear as you race this car up and down the gulf road.  Safety first.

Hypocrisy

Definition of HYPOCRISY

1: a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not; especially : the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion 

 

We know that every nation and religion has its fair share of hypocrites.  We also know that those that talk the loudest often act the worst.  It is no different here in Kuwait.  The direct clash between the teachings of Islam and the practice of the people is apparent everywhere.  Not everyone who claims to follow the holy teachings actually does so (just like any other religion in the world -- Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and the list can go on).

Normally as we see the hypocrisy we chuckle and move on.  This week, though, things reached a new level of low.  As Heidi was walking to school, a car drove by where two men slowed to yell at her to come over and act as their prostitute (in not so kind words, mind you but due to the nature, actual words will not be repeated).  On the heels of that, Heidi left the gym to find this fine empty bottle of whiskey (?) just chilling right in front of her car.  Let's just say it was a tipping point.  The chuckling was replaced by anger and frustration.  Just like in any other part of the world, we wish for people to be transparent, honest, and real.  Please do not hide behind religion and claim to be holy if your idea of a good time is an educator dressed in a skirt and cardigan carrying a backpack and a to-go coffee cup and a bottle of cheap booze.  And, if y'all are going to live a lie, please -- keep us out of it!

Proof is in the picture.