One absolute truth about living in a different culture is that you learn to not take yourself so seriously. It has been so good for us to be out of our comfort zone, lighten up and find humor in situations. Our sheltered little American selves are learning to look past preconceived expectations and laugh... a lot. If laughter is the best medicine we are going to be the most healthy people in Dubai!
Situations that are currently cracking us up.
1. i call maintenance to come and fix a toilet that doesn't seem to be flushing that well. They show up at my door with a screw driver and a bucket. In normal circumstances i would find it odd that a plumber would show up with the same cache of tools. Here however it works because 20 minutes behind a closed door, because i just can't bear to watch, they reveal a fully functioning toilet.
2. Just when we become dependent on making several U-turns to reach a desired destination we find this....
Which is HILARIOUS now but not at the time. You see, Chris was frantically trying to reach the bank (which requires several U turns) before it closed for the long holiday weekend because we were in the middle of the very long process of buying a car. (Side note to the already existing side note: in the UAE if you are even the slightest bit off on your signature at the bottom of your check it WILL be rejected.) Chris signed the check in front of the car salesman and showed him 4 or 5 different forms of ID declaring him to be without a doubt the same Chris signing the check. However after waiting 5 days the bank called to let us know that the check would not be clearing, not because of lack of funds, but because it was obviously NOT Chris' signature on the check.
3. OSHA would definitely NOT approve of finding these boxes scattered around the school campus.
4. Sometimes people intermingle with cars on very busy roadways. (NOT a parking lot.)
5. Common knowledge at a gas station right?! No smoking, turn off your car and don't use your cell phone. The fabulous thing about Dubai is that you don't have to pump your own gas so you can just stay in your car. What do you do to pass the time while you wait?... talk on the cell phone. How do you keep cool in the heat while waiting for your car to be filled?... you leave the ignition on with the air condition running. The first time we did this my heart was thumping in my chest as i was sure any moment our car would instantly detonate. Obviously we survived. Thankfully, i have yet to see someone actually light up a smoke. One rule followed out of 3 isn't bad.
6. Sending fliers out for our first ever neighborhood "Trick or Treat" but having to include exact details as to what it means to "Trick or Treat."
6. Today was the best though. Even my kiddos were in the back seat laughing out loud. The car that we finally were able to purchase after spending 3 weeks at the dealership, had to go in for a Regularly Scheduled Service. "Should take 2-3 hours," they assured me. i asked if while the car was in the shop, they could take a peek at one of the side view mirror as it wasn't adjusting in every direction from the inside console. "Of course but that would add at least another 2 hours to the service time." No problem, we grabbed a cab home. It wasn't until the next day the car was ready and when i picked it up, we found this.
While in the process of trying to get to the motor of the side view mirror it was broken and unfortunately they don't have a spare of either. The good news is when the 2 parts come in they will call me and fix it FOC (free of charge)!
Situations that are currently cracking us up.
1. i call maintenance to come and fix a toilet that doesn't seem to be flushing that well. They show up at my door with a screw driver and a bucket. In normal circumstances i would find it odd that a plumber would show up with the same cache of tools. Here however it works because 20 minutes behind a closed door, because i just can't bear to watch, they reveal a fully functioning toilet.
2. Just when we become dependent on making several U-turns to reach a desired destination we find this....
Which is HILARIOUS now but not at the time. You see, Chris was frantically trying to reach the bank (which requires several U turns) before it closed for the long holiday weekend because we were in the middle of the very long process of buying a car. (Side note to the already existing side note: in the UAE if you are even the slightest bit off on your signature at the bottom of your check it WILL be rejected.) Chris signed the check in front of the car salesman and showed him 4 or 5 different forms of ID declaring him to be without a doubt the same Chris signing the check. However after waiting 5 days the bank called to let us know that the check would not be clearing, not because of lack of funds, but because it was obviously NOT Chris' signature on the check.
3. OSHA would definitely NOT approve of finding these boxes scattered around the school campus.
The good news is they must work because i have yet to see a "rodent."
4. Sometimes people intermingle with cars on very busy roadways. (NOT a parking lot.)
5. Common knowledge at a gas station right?! No smoking, turn off your car and don't use your cell phone. The fabulous thing about Dubai is that you don't have to pump your own gas so you can just stay in your car. What do you do to pass the time while you wait?... talk on the cell phone. How do you keep cool in the heat while waiting for your car to be filled?... you leave the ignition on with the air condition running. The first time we did this my heart was thumping in my chest as i was sure any moment our car would instantly detonate. Obviously we survived. Thankfully, i have yet to see someone actually light up a smoke. One rule followed out of 3 isn't bad.
6. Sending fliers out for our first ever neighborhood "Trick or Treat" but having to include exact details as to what it means to "Trick or Treat."
6. Today was the best though. Even my kiddos were in the back seat laughing out loud. The car that we finally were able to purchase after spending 3 weeks at the dealership, had to go in for a Regularly Scheduled Service. "Should take 2-3 hours," they assured me. i asked if while the car was in the shop, they could take a peek at one of the side view mirror as it wasn't adjusting in every direction from the inside console. "Of course but that would add at least another 2 hours to the service time." No problem, we grabbed a cab home. It wasn't until the next day the car was ready and when i picked it up, we found this.
While in the process of trying to get to the motor of the side view mirror it was broken and unfortunately they don't have a spare of either. The good news is when the 2 parts come in they will call me and fix it FOC (free of charge)!
