Dubai

Happy Fourth of July!
I just landed in Dubai (where they very obviously are not celebrating fourth of July), but I'm having an ice-cold Heineken draft while I think of everyone back in the states! It's 99 degrees here in Dubai, and it only makes the beer that much better!

Dubai is like the Las Vegas of the middle east. The lights flash, the drinks are cold, and the entertainment comes in any number of dollars (or AED's, Arab of Emirates Dahmari) that you could ever imagine. I'm not able to go 'out on the town' so to speak, but I can tell from the reception desk's phone calls to my room offering round-the-clock tours and 'mid-night cruises', and from the view of Dubai from my window, that this city is fun!

I figured that I might kind of be your tour guide through these unusual cultural experiences- so if it's ok with you, I'll talk you through my first ten minutes at the United Arab Emirates Airport in Dubai.
I landed in what felt like an Arabian palace- gold molding, modern pictures of beaches and oceans, and palm trees towering to the very impressive ceiling. I step onto an all-glass elevator that challenges the size of my city apartment, and watch in awe as the massive airport arrives at my levle. Music beats through the open hallways as beautiful eastern women dressed in the air-line's trademark red, with bright lipstick to match, offer me a complementary latte. I make my way to the Guest Services desk to pick up my hotel voucher. Since my layover is thirteen hours, the airline provided me with over-night stay, dinner, drinks, and breakfast before my 8:25 flight tomorrow morning.
Coming from the line of women that I do, before I head to the hotel shuttle, I needed to find the bathroom! Now look- I don't need a platinum toilet seat with a fancy TV screen on the back of my door- I've used Penn Station bathrooms many-a-time, but what I found was something I'd never expected: no toilet at all.

If this blog were just for the wild-at-heart, I would describe to you in detail the 'toilets' in Dubai (fully equip with a 'rinser', similar to a sink's spray hose used to rinse off soapy dishes). But let's just get down to it- This blog is describing the different cultures that many Americans have never even heard of (including myself), let alone seen or used in person. And so, as I describe the toilet facilities of one of the richest countries in the world, the United Arab of Emirates, it can only prepare me ('us', since you're along coming too!) for the many cultural adjustments ahead.

Here's to an open mind everyone!

Rest now for an early flight tomorrow!
See you in Uganda!

Love,
Carly