Atlanta vs. Abu Dhabi: Cost of Living

I happened upon an interesting site today, Xpatulator.com. I was intrigued about their views on the UAE, and thought I'd do some comparisons to home. This landed me in Microsoft Excel, which happens a lot in my life. I think in spreadsheets...I can't help it.

So the way this works...each category is rated from 1, being the most expensive, to 300, being the cheapest. There are 300 countries in the study, with Tokyo, Japan being the number 1 most expensive overall, and Sanaa, Yemen being the cheapest. (Of note: they do not cite resources!)

Overall, Abu Dhabi ranked 27 and Atlanta ranked 225. New York City ranked 33.

Then, they ranked spending areas in each city. Remember 1=most expensive and 300=least expensive, so Abu Dhabi's clothing cost is really expensive!
So then I made a graph, because who doesn't love a graph? You can see that the two cities meet in the middle for Communication and Transportation, and that Atlanta's household prices are super inexpensive compared to the rest of the world!

I feel the need to comment on some of these...

If you divided up Alcohol and Tobacco into two categories, you'd see that Abu Dhabi's Alcohol number would fall drastically and their Tobacco level would rise.

As far as Clothing...it's hard to score well when you fill all of your malls with BCBG, Burberry, Dolce & Gabanna, Emporio Armani, Gucci, Juicy Couture...and the likes.

In terms of Education, they must be referring to free public schools reserved for Emiratis. To give you an idea, the nurseries I've seen here cost 8,000-12,000dhs (about $2K-$3K) for a 3-4 month term. A common education allowance for employees seems to be 25,000-40,000dhs ($6K-$10K) per year starting at age 3. I think nursery is way above what I know in Atlanta, but the private school seems pretty close to average at home.

Household seems accurate to me - with Abu Dhabi being REALLY expensive and Atlanta being really cheap. This includes rent/mortgage, real estate taxes, and utilities.

The Restaurant/Hotel speaks for itself...this isn't a cheap vacation spot!

Well, that's the end of our lesson today. Hope you enjoyed my nerdy presentation :)

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly...4 Months In

It's hard to believe Colin and I have only been here for 4 months. We started making ourselves at home right off the bat, so it seems like we've already made a home here.
Culture shock is a good way to describe my attempts to adapt here. Some things are easily accepted, others take awhile to get used to, and there are a few that will probably always annoy the pants off me. Hence the name of the blog: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly. Disclaimer: most of these are generalizations, so there are exceptions in most cases. Just not convenient ones.

So here we go:

The Good


:: Being together as a family. I knew I married that guy for a reason :)


:: Familiar products, restaurants, and retail chains in Dubai.

:: Everyone speaks English, though in varying fluency and pronunciation.

:: Friday brunches.

:: Businesses will communicate with you by SMS (which they say instead of text).

:: Tax. Free. Income.

:: Car washers in the parking decks.

:: Fresh baked bread is cheap and plentiful. And they will slice it for you.

:: Spices are also cheap and plentiful.

:: Pull tabs on Coke :)

:: Living 3 blocks from the ocean (we should really go there soon).

:: Learning lots and lots about the Middle East, Islam, and lots of other cultures.

:: The pork section of the grocery store.

:: Slingbox. Best invention ever.

:: The metro! Convenient public transportation and no need for car seats.

:: While everyone at home is complaining about 20 degree weather and ice, it's 70 here and I'm wearing shorts.

:: Techonology that allows me to call, chat, and video chat with family 8,000 miles away.

:: Living above a 24-hour market.

The Bad

:: Living above a 24-hour market. (I know, but it's good & bad)

:: American imports, especially food, are expensive, and become a temptation.

:: No U-Haul.

:: Grass has been replaced with sand. I miss grass.

:: They don't sell chicken broth.

:: Chicken in the store is generally defrosted, so you can't re-freeze it for later.

:: Playgrounds with swings are a rarity.

:: Diet Coke tastes gross.

:: Disappointing lack of office and craft supplies.

:: Alcohol is generally only served in hotels.

:: Taxi drivers are likely to have no idea where they are going.

:: Medical insurance claims aren't generally filed by the facility, so you pay and file for reimbursement.

:: Stores are in perpetual state of restocking (most often right in front of something I need), but you will find an item one week, and won't see it again for a month.

:: Even in September, it was 110 degrees outside all day. Summers here give new definition to "sweltering".

:: Having marble floors is making me realize I didn't vacuum enough at home!

:: Sales on grocery items usually means the item is going to expire tomorrow.

:: Something in the water here makes your hair frizzy and brittle. Note to self: buy a filter.

:: No pork pepperoni on pizza...it's all beef pepperoni.

:: Windy day means a sandy day
The Ugly


:: The nanny = maid situation. I suppose it's cultural, but I can't seem to wrap my head around the quality of childcare in this country...even expat children.


:: Region-coded DVDs....this isn't specific to Dubai, it just annoys me a lot.

:: Setup fees, which I know are always a part of moving to a new place, but I still dislike them

:: Customer service here, um, stinks. Here's a hint: if they tell you they will call back in 5 minutes...they just want you off the phone. Don't fall for it.

:: Shortage of speech and occupational therapists = wait list.

:: Shipping costs...ugh.

:: Not sure if it’s the education level or it’s cultural, but people here don’t think outside of the box very often.

Some Other Observations

:: No drive-thru fast food. But, I've yet to find a place that won't deliver.

:: KFC is the McDonald's of this country.

:: Probably cultural, but there isn't a lot of friendly banter in lines (= queues) or when spotting another stroller (= pram) - pushing mom in the mall. Some cultures, namely the Eastern world, believe that eye contact is provocative. Among Western expats, I think it's partly snobbery and otherwise insecurity. The population here is quite fluid, as most employees are on a 2-year contract, so I often wonder if people are uncomfortable getting "too close" to someone who may be leaving. Just a speculation.


:: Many strollers have actual bassinets on top. Babies up to toddlerhood are often found sleeping through the malls. One day I'm going to ask one of them how they convince their children to sleep in public.

:: No car seat laws! Kids bounce around in the back seat of very expensive cars going wayyy over the speed limit. We only have one car, so I walk and take the metro anywhere possible, but in the case that I need a taxi, I actually have to sit Colin in my lap and strap the seatbelt over both of us. If anyone knows of a stroller that holds a toddler car seat, please, please tell me.


So I guess in conclusion, I'm hoping the next few months are better since a lot of the bad stuff is in regards to being a newbie.
Happy New Year!

UAE National Day

Joe had another 4 day weekend! He is normally off on Friday and Saturday, but this week, he's been home Thursday through Sunday. The United Arab Emirates is celebrating their 39th National Day, which is sort of the equivalent of our Independence Day on the 4th of July. Funny enough, both are to celebrate independence from Britian.

His company gave him the fancy scarf you see above, complete with pictures of the President and Vice President. These pictures are pasted on buildings all over the country.Above is Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum. He is the Vice President & Prime Minister of the UAE, and the reigning ruler of Dubai. This guy is Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan, the President of the UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi. The President and VP are elected by the Supreme Council, which is comprised of the leader of each of the seven emirates. The Prime Minister, or head of the Cabinet, is chosen by the President after "consultation with the Supreme Council." So, the UAE is not a democracy, but relies on the head of each emirate to serve as the voice. (UAE Interact) This is a display in the center of a roundabout in Al Ain. I'm guessing the pitcher symbolizes traditional Arabian coffee. They already had this "39" up when we went to the zoo, and I wondered what it meant. It's all making sense now :)

So, these Emiratis love to celebrate, especially when it comes to their country. The display of national flags on cars, buildings, and in the form of adorning scarves is not unlike the patriotism you'll see in the US on the 4th of July. The main difference I saw here was this: warnings to stay off the roads. This was purely word of mouth, but I hear that motorists will idle on Jumeirah Beach Road, revv their engines until they "explode," screech their tires until they burst, and even wreck their cars on purpose. The painted car windsheilds can't help the safety factor. And all of this is (supposedly) done by people who frown on the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

photo from gulfnews.com
Colin & I stayed in, but Joe did see some crazy tire squealing when he visited Pete & Simone who live just above the beach. Probably the most interesting thing I witnessed were cab drivers from surrounding countries proudly displaying UAE paraphenalia because they really do love the country they live and work in. Yep, I asked 'em.

photo from gulfnews.com

Happy 39th National Day!

Taxi Drama

I was invited to go to a seminar this week put on by Andalene Salveson, owner of a South-African company called Monsters to Munchkins. She had the seminar at Willow Nursery which is about a 20-minute taxi ride from here. Directions in hand, I hailed a cab outside of our building and headed that way.



I should stop here to explain the taxi drivers in Dubai. As I understand it, cab drivers in the U.S. generally know the local roads and can get you places if you tell them the general vicinity. Here, you seriously have to navigate with turn-by-turn directions or you won't make it to your destination. They are somewhat known for their tendency to play dumb so they'll get a higher fare out of you. Also, there is usually a language barrier so you have to be very concise....and often very bossy.



Back to the story...we were riding down Sheikh Zayed Road, which is the equivalent of an interstate at home. When the driver tried to go onto the wrong ramp despite my back seat nagging, I knew we might have a problem.



We made it to an important intersection, and I said "turn left." He made a U-turn.



We finally got back to the intersection and turned left, I said "Turn right on 9C." He ignored me.



When we finally got back to 9C, it was dark out and I couldn't see the Willow Nursery villa anywhere! I asked the driver to pull over so I could call for better directions. Not surprisingly, he didn't listen. He drove right into another villa's driveway. Then the real drama started.



There were a few Emiratis on the porch, men and women. One of the men stood up immediately and came bolting towards my cab. I paid the driver and demanded change, but he casually rolled down his window and started cackling.



"What do you want?" he asked the Emirati.



"This is my house!! I own this house! What are you doing here??" the Emirati screamed as he marched towards us.



"GIVE. ME. MY. CHANGE!! NOOOWW!"



Ok..so I was getting dramatic. The guy was probably drinking, and just trying to give the taxi driver a hard time. Still, a little part of me was fearful.



After a few minutes of this back and forth, I finally got my change, and ran out of the cab.



The women on the porch were yelling...laughing..."Stupid! Stupid!"

I know I was panicking for no reason, but I was already so mad at the taxi driver for completely ignoring my directions, then he put me in a sketchy situation.

In the US, I would have been on the phone with his superiors ensuring he'd be reprimanded. Here....well, no one cares. Except Emiratis that are wondering why the blazes a random taxi has invaded their personal space.

I survived the debacle, and probably had no reason to fret in the first place. Just another reason why it's hard to call another country "home."

The Bomb

Today is the start of Eid al-Adha...a Muslim holiday observed in the UAE. This means Joe will be home for the rest of the week! Woohoo!

I wanted to research the observance, so naturally, I googled it. I found a website called "Answering Islam" which sparked my interest. It's a Christian website...which I believe is devoted to rebuking the Islamic faith. So, I clicked on the link. Lo and behold...I got this: THE BOMB! I suppose this is their maternal variation of censorship. Once I defeat the bomb, I will post more on Eid al-Adha...

Newsworthy

If you haven't noticed, I've been reading the news. I abandoned it at home, to be honest. I was tired of the never ending political rants and polls and the constant cries of prejudice, blame, and false advertising.

Here, I've found the news to be fascinating.

Some stories I've read today:

- Man who was caught by 12 speeding radars in one day going 60km/hr (37mph) over the limit had to pay 42,000 dirhams ($11,500) in fees to avoid having his car impounded.

- Starting November 1st, police can impound your car on the spot for speeding violations as part of the "Speed Kills" campaign. You will receive a 1,000 dhs ($275) fee, your car will be impounded for 30 days, and you get 12 black traffic points. Of note, the cars here start beeping when you go over 120km/hr (74mph).

- A man of unknown origin blackmailed his Emirati girlfriend, telling her to marry him or pay him 250,000 dhs ($68,000) or he would publish intimate photos and messages. Apparently, they had dated for 5 years and her parents disapproved of her marrying a non-Emirati. The man will now sit in jail for three years. Don't mess with the Emiratis.

- An Uzbekistani woman and an Arab man were imprisoned for adultery. An Arab woman saw the two enter a construction site together and called authorities. The Uzbekistani woman will serve 3 years in jail, the Arab man 3 months, and both will be deported after they serve their time. Adultery can yield heavy punishment here - anything from prostitution to cohabitation can be considered adultery.

- A Filipina woman and her boyfriend were arrested for adultery. The woman fainted and friends took her to the hospital. Doctors discovered she was pregnant, asked for her husband, and she admitted to being unmarried. Doctors called police and she was arrested at the hospital. Her boyfriend was arrested shortly after and admitted to having a wife and children at home in the Phillipines.

- November 1st was "free ride day" on the metro to celebrate it's anniversary. Magnets were put on cars with pictures of fried eggs that read "It's a cool 20 degrees C on the Metro."

- Now there are numerous complaints of overcrowding during peak hours on the metro, and having to stand "mouth to mouth" with other passengers. No word on the RTA's plans for improvement.

- Date pits may be used in place of synthetic antibiotics for chickens as they have been found to have natural antibiotic properties that leave no residue in the meat. I wonder if they'll start selling "seedless dates" now?

- The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority reports a 16% rise in hotel guests in the first 9 months of 2010. Glad to know we've contributed to business here :)

Diverse Backgrounds Blamed for Failed Inspections

According to an article in one UAE newspaper, The National, two thirds of the medical facilities in Abu Dhabi FAILED their health inspections last year!

The Health Authority - Abu Dhabi (HAAD) director, Dr. Khalid Fulad, seems to blame this on the "diverse backgrounds" of the workers. Apparently this was most common in smaller clinics since the larger facilities can employ "higher caliber" workers.

Circumstances leading to failure included:

- Doctors saving syringes to use on the same patient on their next visit. Dr. Fulad: "Perhaps that doctor came from a country where there were a lack of syringes. We have to educate these people."

- A lack of medical record-keeping. Doctors complain they don't have enough time...maybe they need a scribe! (that was for my ES peeps)

- Lab techs working on blood and urine specimens with bare hands

- Dentists reusing ampules on different patients

- Equipment being stored in unhygienic conditions, including next to toxic chemicals, and not being properly sterilized.

- A general practitioner serving as an OB/GYN

- A receptionist working as a nurse

HAAD is offering a series of workshops for the healthcare industry, and is "concentrating more on education than enforcement."

Um, how about doing both since people are going to keep coming to these places in the meantime!

Without introducing politics into my opinion, I'll have to say that I'm grateful to be an American. Even in this country of high wages and beautiful scenery, you might get the same syringe they used on you last month.

An Emirate in Mourning

Photo Courtesy of The National

Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed al Qasimi died on October 27th, 2010, and was laid to rest today. He was the ruler of the emirate Ras Al Khaimah, or RAK since 1948. He was believed to be the world's oldest reigning monarch, but there was an absence of a record-keeping administration at the time of his birth in the Trucial States, so his birthdate of April 9, 1918 isn't official. He's also the last survivor of the seven rulers that founded the United Arab Emirates. He is pictured above on the left with Sheikh Zayed, who Joe calls the "George Washington" of this country.

Above is a map of the UAE to give you can idea of where he ruled. Abu Dhabi is the southernmost city in the map, then Dubai, and Ras Al Khaimah is the northernmost emirate. Literally, it means "The Top of the Tent." I put a bright green circle on the map to show you approximately where we live.

According to dubaifaqs.com, when a UAE ruler or their family pass away, most radio stations suspend their normal programming and play subdued music as a sign of respect. In RAK, the mourning period will last 40 days and government institutions will be closed for 1 week. In the rest of the country, the mourning period lasts seven days. In Abu Dhabi and Dubai, everything will remain open. In the other emirates, government institutions will close for 3 days. The country also flies flags at half mast.

To give you an idea why this place frustrates me...

I called United Car Rental, the place where we rented our car. I call this number frequently, it's saved in my phone.

UCR - Hello (No inflection, just like a mumble)
K - Hi, is this United Car Rental?
UCR - Yes
K - Um, ok. I'd like to make a payment, please.
UCR - Please call back the number.
K - Call back what number?
UCR - Please call back the number, mam. (They say it just like that - mam, not mayum like at home)
K - Am I talking to someone who works for United Car Rental?
UCR - Yes
K - So do you need me to call a different phone number to make the payment?
UCR - Call back the number.
K - What number? Do you want me to hang up and dial this number again so I can talk to someone else, or do you want me to call a different number?
UCR - .........
K - Hello?!
UCR - Yes.
K - Can I please make a payment? Or can you tell me the number to call so that I can make a payment?
UCR - Mam please call back the number.

So I just hung up. Where do you go from there? I would have hung up earlier in the conversation if I had an inkling that I'd dialed the wrong number.

This isn't a rare occurence here. I sometimes think they play dumb just so they don't have to help you...or maybe it's a language barrier?

Welcome to Dubai, the logic-free zone. (I got that one from our friend Pete. It's so true.)

(Dish) Dashing in the UAE

Those who harass believing men and believing women undeservedly, bear (on themselves) a calumny and a grievous sin. O Prophet! Enjoin your wives, your daughters, and the wives of true believers that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad) That is most convenient, that they may be distinguished and not be harassed. [...] (Qur'an 33:58–59)

Since arriving less than a week ago, I've seen all kinds of traditional Muslim attire. From my research, I've learned that the dress is largely regional, with colors and scarving chosen according to traditions in the country. However, you really do see it all here.
The Muslim women I've seen usually wear this or something similar. The robe is called an abaya and is floor-length, black, and flowing. The head scarf or veil has many names, but I mostly see it called a shela or niqab. Here, most women that wear shelas have a slit for their eyes like the one pictured above. I have seen a few women with veils over their entire face like this. It's odd to see someone walking around like this, but they tend to avoid eye contact in this culture anyway.Men's attire is pretty simple. The ankle-length cloak is called a kandura or a dish dash, as the expats like to call it. They typically wear white in the summer to reflect the sun and grays or browns in the cooler months. The men's head scarves are called guthras and are usually white or red & white checkered in the UAE. They can be worn loosely or tied in a turban. The black rope that secures the guthra is called an egal or igal. Historically they actually used these to tie down their camels.

The gold-painted, stiff mask called a batula or briqa is mainly worn by the older UAE nationals, as it has gone out of style with the younger population. It's usually worn in place of the face veil and was reserved for married women only. I have seen a few of these, and was surprised that some are thin enough to only cover her nose, with her mouth exposed.
Lots of women wear headscarves like this that only cover their neck, hair, and ears. There are lots of definitions for this word, but I think this is called a hijab. Hijab is also used as an umbrella term for the Muslim woman's modest dress. I have seen these scarves with and without abayas. Sometimes I've seen a women in jeans and a long-sleeved shirt with a scarf. If you look at the sleeve and skirt of this abaya, you'll see intricate beading and embroidery which is very common.
Lots of women wear black gloves with their abayas, and you see lots of henna here. I also see women with bare hands.

A new & controversial trend in the Muslim world is this "camel hump" hijab. I laughed a little when I was researching this because all I could think about was a giant BumpIt under the scarf. I've seen lots of younger women wearing this style. The controversy stems from the traditional purpose of the hijab, which is to de-emphasize the woman's hair. Some call this style haram, or forbidden according to the Koran.
Fortunately, I don't have to wear any of this. Dubai is full of expats and western clothing, so I can wear a sleeveless shirt or long shorts. In Abu Dhabi, expat women dress more conservatively - no shoulders or knees showing. I was so curious about the different kinds of traditional dress here, so I started researching and decided to just share it with all of you. However, this is just a few hours of internet research, so I can only hope that I'm telling you correctly!