Two weeks ago four of us had to go to Dubai to straighten out some visa issues. It was a little hassle but thankfully we all seem to now have the correct visa. Hopefully the last few things that need to come together will. Worse case scenario I’ll be home sooner then planned.
It was so interesting to be in Dubai. In a lot of ways it is the polar opposite of Kabul. There is construction happening everywhere you turn. The buildings are tall and the equipment is modern. It was impressive to see all the tall buildings.
This was my first trip out of the country and I was amazed at how homesick I started to feel and for things I didn’t know I was missing. We were in a mall and I recognized the music in the background, which seemed so odd. Plus it was so exciting to be in a mall and to able to use a charge card. At one point we walked out of a well known furniture in the States and felt particularly homesick. When we looked up at the next store, it was called "I want to go home." The irony was to much.
Other items I noticed, the smell of fresh cut grass. I was surprised at how green Dubai is and it really isn’t that green but the medians have grass, which is something I haven’t seen in a long time. The hotel had a mini-gym and I was able to run, again I haven’t been able to run since I left. One of the women who traveled with me said she hasn’t seen someone so happy after going for a run. I can’t say I was as happy the next day, my legs hurt but it was so worth it.
We were able to walk around outside. I spent the first day or so feeling like I forgot something and then I realized it was my headscarf. Guess I have adjusted to wearing one. Walking down the streets you heard many different accents and a few different languages. It’s like a mini-United Nations.
Being there for a long weekend was a great respite. I am looking forward to heading there again in just over a week. It will be fun to spend New Years there and really get to explore what there is to do.
