Countdown to Departure

My husband's mother has had some health concerns that require surgery, so he'll head to Egypt on his own (tomorrow, sniff), since much of the trip will be him giving her comfort. I return to my original plan of visiting friends in Dubai (leaving in just over 2 weeks!!!). It's been almost 2 years since I visited last, and I miss them terribly. I miss the warm weather. I miss the pampered lifestyle. I miss going to the pool or the beach of Friday mornings, just for few hours. I miss the ability of friends to schedule coffee dates last minute-everyone here in the States doesn't dream of 'calling over' unexpectedly and coffee is something responsible people seem to plan a week in advance. I miss the FABULOUS dinner offers in Dubai. My mouth waters at the thought of "sushi night" at the Creekside Sheraton (all you can eat, and NOT limited to the cheaper stuff). I miss the plethora of Arabic restaurants, fantastic Iranian cuisine, and a slew of Thai, Japanese, and Asian fusion places. Don't forget the variety of Indian cuisines from cheap and cheerful to high end. I miss the general culture of ESL teachers, who plan annual trips to exotic places, despite the fact that they live somewhere that people already perceive as exotic. I miss the cultural clashes, and though Costco and Ikea here present a frustrating substitute for what daily life is in the UAE, I love the fact that so many cultures are represented, bringing the best and the worst with them to one country. I miss delivery. I miss paying someone else to iron my clothes! I miss getting dressed up for things-I feel a bit frumpy here most days. Ok, there are a lot of superficial items in the previous sentences, but it's just about the way of life. I liked being one of the few N. Americans in the UAE. I loved that most of my colleagues and friends came from all over the world: Ireland, UK, Oz, New Zealand, France, Belgium, Jordan, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Lebanon, etc....and here, I'm just one of many who are more of less the same. My biggest fear in returning to the US was boredom. My fear has been realised. Sigh.

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