I was going through my posts from last year, and came across this one, which I wrote almost a year ago. It's amazing because I feel almost the same way now as I did a year ago.
The common denominator? Work! Too much work...And not enough energy to do it. I feel drained. And again, I'm in dire need of a holiday...Yes, I am leaving in a couple of days, but it's mostly work, and just a couple of real days off...But really, I'm dreading it more than anything. The last thing I want now is to get on a plane. With my clients!
All I want to do is take the battery our of my cell phone, disconnect my Internet, and curl up on my couch with a couple of DVD's and a good book.
And then maybe I'd decide to venture off to my pool for a couple of hours of suntanning... Then, I'd pop in for a quick, relaxing yoga class... Or a massage... mmm...sounds good...
Instead, I'm already dreading my return to work next week.... Help! Positive vibes needed again! Seriously.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
Seriously??
I was reading today's Gulf News, and came across the section where they ask people to give their opinion about a specific topic. Today's topic: Things to do this summer, and the statement was "Parents should allow their children 18 years or older to travel on budget holidays".
Two our of the four people interviewed said that "18 is too young for children to travel alone" and that "25 or above is a good age because then they are adults".
WHAT?? That's a bunch of crap if you ask me...and that's the reason why some young men and women are irresponsible and immature.
At 18, (well, at 17 actually), I was off to university. I lived on my own in a foreign country where I knew practically no one. Yes, it was difficult, but in hindsight, I am happy I got to live through such an experience. It made me stronger. It made me more confident. It made me responsible.
Before that,I lived in the UAE, where, like many children, I led a pampered life, with no chores, no worries...nothing to do.
In the span of a long flight across the world, I was transported to a city where I had my own apartment which I now had to clean myself. I had to make my own bed. I had to learn how to use an ATM machine. I had to buy my own groceries. I had to do my own laundry and my dishes. I had to call the utilities company to get my phone set up. All these were things I had taken for granted.
So, in response to those parents who won't let their kids travel before the age of 25, I ask: why not? Let them learn, let them experience things, let them build their personalities, let them be responsible, let them grow. Don't think that you're protecting your children by smothering them.
Two our of the four people interviewed said that "18 is too young for children to travel alone" and that "25 or above is a good age because then they are adults".
WHAT?? That's a bunch of crap if you ask me...and that's the reason why some young men and women are irresponsible and immature.
At 18, (well, at 17 actually), I was off to university. I lived on my own in a foreign country where I knew practically no one. Yes, it was difficult, but in hindsight, I am happy I got to live through such an experience. It made me stronger. It made me more confident. It made me responsible.
Before that,I lived in the UAE, where, like many children, I led a pampered life, with no chores, no worries...nothing to do.
In the span of a long flight across the world, I was transported to a city where I had my own apartment which I now had to clean myself. I had to make my own bed. I had to learn how to use an ATM machine. I had to buy my own groceries. I had to do my own laundry and my dishes. I had to call the utilities company to get my phone set up. All these were things I had taken for granted.
So, in response to those parents who won't let their kids travel before the age of 25, I ask: why not? Let them learn, let them experience things, let them build their personalities, let them be responsible, let them grow. Don't think that you're protecting your children by smothering them.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Yeah yeah....
I haven't been posting much lately....I know...
Blogging is like exercising... (except much less tiring!). Once you stop for a few days, it's hard to get back into it. Plus, nothing interesting is happening in my life. Here are some random thoughts cause I'm too tired to organize them into a post that makes sense:
Blogging is like exercising... (except much less tiring!). Once you stop for a few days, it's hard to get back into it. Plus, nothing interesting is happening in my life. Here are some random thoughts cause I'm too tired to organize them into a post that makes sense:
- I am overworked again. It's become a yearly thing: summers are busy...
- As a result, I'm tired. Physically, mentally, emotionally....Just tired...I need a break!
- A mini-break is coming up next week. Not really a break, because part of it involves work, the other part will be pleasure, but most of it will be spent on various planes. Hmm...I'm gonna need a break after mini-break!
- I need sleep! Unfotunately, I'm not one of those people who can sleep easily on planes...So forget about catching up on sleep on my various plane trips.
- It's officially summer today...But it's been hot here for around 2 months now...it's really bad. Is this year worse than last year? Or is it just me forgetting how hot it was last year?
OK that's all I can come up with tonight...My brain is mush....I promise that my next post will be more interesting...
Friday, June 15, 2007
Salik...or not salik?
Everyone's been talking about this Salik thing. And although I know it's coming, I haven't been too concerned by it...until now.
As I was driving from Jebel Ali to Dubai yesterday, I noticed the new signs that warn you where the next toll payment zone is, and where the last free exit is. Incidentally, I noticed that the last free exit before Salik charges you is the exit to my apartment. GREAT! So can I expect never ending traffic jams in a couple of weeks from now?
Anyway, since everyone seems to have an opinion about Salik, here's mine (nothing new I'm warning you...it's pretty similar to everyone else's opinion).
As I was driving from Jebel Ali to Dubai yesterday, I noticed the new signs that warn you where the next toll payment zone is, and where the last free exit is. Incidentally, I noticed that the last free exit before Salik charges you is the exit to my apartment. GREAT! So can I expect never ending traffic jams in a couple of weeks from now?
Anyway, since everyone seems to have an opinion about Salik, here's mine (nothing new I'm warning you...it's pretty similar to everyone else's opinion).
- This whole Salik thing seems like a ploy from the government to make more money off the residents of Dubai.
- I have a feeling it's going to backfire, and will end up causing more harm than good. But of course, the government won't do anything about it.
- The way I see it, Salik will just be taking the traffic away from one road, and putting it on another... I can just see it now: Jumeirah Beach Road and Emirates Road all clogged with bumper to bumper car.
- Why don't they just implement Salik during rush hour? Why should I pay a toll charge when I am driving down Sheikh Zayed at 9PM on a weeknight...or at 11AM on a Friday morning? Sheikh Zayed is never busy at those times, so why take money from me?
- What happens to people who live in Abu Dhabi for example, and who only go to Dubai once or twice a month? Do they have to buy a toll-tag as well?
- Why do I have to pay twice: as I enter the toll zone, and as I exit it? And if I do 2 trips a day, does it mean that I have to pay 16 dhs a day?
- If Dubai had a alternate means of transportation, I'd understand the whole toll thing to encourage people to use public transport. But right now, there's no metro, and the bus system is just crappy. And taxis will charge you toll rates anyway.
- Are companies going to help employees now that there's an additional cost to living in Dubai?
Friday, June 08, 2007
How are they supposed to live?
One law I never understood in this country is the one that bans bachelors (and bachelorettes) from sharing an apartment. So basically, if 3 friends want to be roomates, they can't, because of some stupid law.
I understand the government imposing measures to make sure that apartments are not overcrowded with 15 guys living in a 1-bedroom flat, but what's wrong with 3 people sharing a 3-bedroom apartment?
This law has affected many of my colleagues who share apartments with 2 or 3 friends. These guys and girls come here from countries all over the world in search of good job opportunities. They accept these jobs, but can't afford to live on their own, because starting salaries are quite measly, and rents are quite hefty. So they share. Because paying Dhs 110,000 a year for a 2-bedroom apartment is better than paying Dhs 70,000 for a 1-bedroom apartment. And after a year, they get eviction notices practically throwing them on the streets.
It's really stupid. I've never heard of any law of this sort in any country in the world. What's the point of this law here?
I understand the government imposing measures to make sure that apartments are not overcrowded with 15 guys living in a 1-bedroom flat, but what's wrong with 3 people sharing a 3-bedroom apartment?
This law has affected many of my colleagues who share apartments with 2 or 3 friends. These guys and girls come here from countries all over the world in search of good job opportunities. They accept these jobs, but can't afford to live on their own, because starting salaries are quite measly, and rents are quite hefty. So they share. Because paying Dhs 110,000 a year for a 2-bedroom apartment is better than paying Dhs 70,000 for a 1-bedroom apartment. And after a year, they get eviction notices practically throwing them on the streets.
It's really stupid. I've never heard of any law of this sort in any country in the world. What's the point of this law here?
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Updates
I know I've been kind of MIA lately...but I'm still here. I realise that lately, the only updates I've had on my blog are about my hole in the wall...NOT the most exciting thing on the face of this earth, I admit...
I've just been preoccupied lately... Nothing serious... Just the usual stuff. Preoccupied with work (why is summer always such a busy period for us? In every other job I've had, summer was a more relaxing time...here, it seems, summer is the worst time!). Preoccupied with my friend A., who's been going through a bit of a rough time lately.... Preoccupied with planning vacations, which is not an easy thing to do it seems (but I desperately need time off!)
But it's not all been bad.... And I did want to post about things, but never seemed to find the time to do so...so here goes:
There was the Chicago the musical for example, which took place a couple of weeks ago at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. I enjoyed that tremedously. The actors were really amazing, and I loved the songs. I think it's really cool that Abu Dhabi is getting into this culture thing really seriously.
There's also a book I recently read, which was pure pleasure... I haven't read a whole book in 2 days in a while...and this book was so good, I couldn't put it down, and yet at the same time, I didn't want it to end. It's called The Namesake, and it takes us through 3 decades of the life of the Ganguli family, and Indian family that immigrated to the US . The hero of the novel, Gogol Ganguli, is born in the US, and we go through his teenage and adult life as he struggles to find his true identity.
The book was recently made into a movie, which I also managed to watch (after I finished the book). It's directed by Mira Nair, who also directed Monsoon Wedding, which I also loved.
I highly recommend either the book or the movie.
There's a couple of other things too, but I'll leave those for another post. I'll be back soon...promise!
I've just been preoccupied lately... Nothing serious... Just the usual stuff. Preoccupied with work (why is summer always such a busy period for us? In every other job I've had, summer was a more relaxing time...here, it seems, summer is the worst time!). Preoccupied with my friend A., who's been going through a bit of a rough time lately.... Preoccupied with planning vacations, which is not an easy thing to do it seems (but I desperately need time off!)
But it's not all been bad.... And I did want to post about things, but never seemed to find the time to do so...so here goes:
There was the Chicago the musical for example, which took place a couple of weeks ago at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. I enjoyed that tremedously. The actors were really amazing, and I loved the songs. I think it's really cool that Abu Dhabi is getting into this culture thing really seriously.
There's also a book I recently read, which was pure pleasure... I haven't read a whole book in 2 days in a while...and this book was so good, I couldn't put it down, and yet at the same time, I didn't want it to end. It's called The Namesake, and it takes us through 3 decades of the life of the Ganguli family, and Indian family that immigrated to the US . The hero of the novel, Gogol Ganguli, is born in the US, and we go through his teenage and adult life as he struggles to find his true identity.
The book was recently made into a movie, which I also managed to watch (after I finished the book). It's directed by Mira Nair, who also directed Monsoon Wedding, which I also loved.
I highly recommend either the book or the movie.
There's a couple of other things too, but I'll leave those for another post. I'll be back soon...promise!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
