And the ADVENTURE continues......

 

 

October brings the beginning of several holidays in the UAE, from now until December.  This past week, our country celebrated Eid al-Adha. We got 10 days off!  Riley has decided she loves the UAE b/c holidays mean NO SCHOOL!!!!!!!!  :)

The Davidsons decided to try some of the places we have still yet to experience. 

One of the first places we visited was the Fish Market.  Pictured below, is the LAST time Riley smiled on this day! We do believe she has been scarred for life!  She announced: "Riley will NEVER eat fish again!"  (Her mother, who LOVES fish----came very close to removing all seafood from the Davidson meal plan as well after a day here!)

However......I decided I need to be mature about this and overcome.  So mature, in fact, that I tricked her into eating fish one night this week by telling her it was chicken  (yes, good parenting in action right there!) and another night, SHE asked for the fish option! :) So apparently, my clever parenting was successful! :)  

 

Below was one of the FIRST sights we saw entering the market.  Oh IF ONLY I could somehow record the sounds and the smells of this experience!!!  The pounding metal crunching the bones of sweet DORY and NEMO slightly tipped our little happy place of  Red Lobster enjoyment. 

 

I really just couldn't resist the nasty tongue sticking out at me!

 This man caught my attention and I spent a while just watching him. He had the sweetest, "old-man" kinda face marked with hard times and long years.  His outfit. His turban. Sandaled, worn feet.  All of it intrigued me. 

  I believe I was just having one of those moments of realizing just HOW different my "world" is than so many here and in other places of the world.  Sure, we may live in one of the wealthiest parts of the world, but here---it's not like that.  Some of these people have what I would put on the t.v. show-Dirtiest Jobs.  Some people, still function in Survival of the Fittest mode.  And SOME people aren't so spoiled that the "SUSHI" is served on the pretty platter---they were the ones who pulled it from the boat, drug it out of the truck, put it on ice, sliced it up (hopefully, WASHED it---didn't see much fish CLEANING that day---but I am choosing to not think about that right now!) and prepared it in the way that looks more appealing and "normal" to us "citified folk". 

Apparently, we came on the perfect day!  We were told that they don't normally get such a large shipment of SHARKS!! WOW!



 

 SHARKS ----SHARKS----and MORE sharks........

We did NOT go home with a SHARK purchase.  But we DID come home with some mahi-mahi and a quick stop at a "more American-type" store found us a buggy full of chips 'n salsa, sour cream, cheese, crab  meat, cream cheese, cocktail sauce and WHEAT THINS!! (we've only found Wheat Thins twice---at 18 U.S. dollars a box!!!  eeks--but well worth it for a moment of comfort food pleasure!)  Greg brought Schroeder's  and "Glaze holiday/ party appetizers" to the Yatim family and they brought us Indonesian delicacies! 

Over the holiday we also visited the Camel Market.  We saw "normal" camels, dark camels and the racing camels.   We even saw a 21 day old baby!   I snuck the above picture b/c I wanted a picture of the "shepherd" type people.  These guys SLEEP with the camels!  eeeewwww..... As we drive from Al Ain to Dubai we see tent after tent in the sand.  The tents are where the camel herders sleep.  I AM HIGHLY INTRIGUED!!! However, I am beyond thankful that this is NOT my lot in life! :)  Intrigued......yet disgusted!  Driving down the road we often see camel trucks packed with 3-5 big-ole- 1 or 2-humped creatures crammed in the back with their long necks and big nostrils peeking over the top.  Then you see a man or two sitting on the pile.  ewwww... Anyhow.....just wanted to share a little bit of our world with you. :)

getting a little too close for comfort..............please, little man, hurry and take this darn picture!!! 

Another glimpse into our world.  The "cooler" weather in the desert is bringing out the "picnic" life; or BBQ life as they call it.  We were told that we would see people on the side of the road, pulled over and gathering/eating as a family.  Right, they were.  This picture was taken up on Jabel Hafeet (the tallest mountain in the country).  We were also told how segregated these people are, thus the reason for the picture.  As you can see, the men are together,  and far away (in the black abaya's) are the women.  I don't think these two groups are related, I just wanted to create a picture in your mind of life as we see it here.  The malls are the best place to see the segregation.  Just so you know, STARBUCKS in the UAE is always full of MEN. 

A little different from America, eh?!

One more quick glimpse.  On the 2-laned road up the mountain we looked over to see these men praying on the side of the road.  This is not an uncommon sight, actually.  Traffic is INSANE here and we are amazed that there are not MORE accidents.  ESPECIALLY when you hear the call to prayer and the people put their car in PARK...... IN A LANE......ON  the "highway" (or in the middle of a roundabout) to jump out and run into the nearest mosque to pray.  We live right next to a mosque and many Fridays (Holy Day) our parking spots are blocked due to all of the Muslims coming to pray. 

As always, we hope that this blog helps you join in on our great adventure.  I only wish we could share all the pictures and all of the stories that take place.  Hopefully, you can enjoy the journey as you learn a little about life here.  It's totally different than  our lives in Rome/Cartersville, GA and Lakeland, Florida.  We are truly beginning to embrace our world here and love sharing it with you. 

We covet your prayers as we try to be Light and Love here. 

 Our pastor's wife has made it her goal to "MAKE the women smile at her" as she passes by.  I laughed as they shared that b/c I've said the same thing in my head.  "I will MAKE her see me and I will MAKE her smile back!" It's not the SOUTH,  people.  :)   

Thank you for praying.  We love you all and pray for you and your great adventures as well!