Dubai Mall latest.....

Fishy update....

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2010/February/theuae_February850.xml&section=theuae The tunnel is still closed but is expected to reopen. After working for an aquarium, I LOVE (rothflol) the "minor leak". Where I had been on staff, I don't think any leak would be considered minor.

Now, for something completely different: Women Only Taxis
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?col=&section=theuae&xfile=data/theuae/2010/February/theuae_February846.xml
The first time I flew through Dubai, I noticed that there were pink topped taxis with very nicely dressed lady drivers. As I spent time going to meetings etc in Dubai, I also noticed that these 'lady' taxis drove less aggressively than their male counterparts. And after the rough experience a dear friend had with a taxi driver while she was pregnant, I am very much in favor of 'ladies only' taxis in this part of world. One, they provide good jobs to women. Two, the ladies only taxis empower other women and older girls to be out and about who might otherwise be required to be with a male guardian. I think it's brilliant. Not to mention, I wonder if the cab's internal aroma would be any different? Certainly an important point to ponder when on a very long cab ride in bad traffic.

Well, I was looking forward to a bit of time on the beach today, but the wind is roaring outside and the dust is terribly thick and 'swirly'. Maybe I should pack up the kids and plan a trip into the aquarium in Dubai? Or should we just stay put and bake cookies and clean house?

Peace.

Dubai Mall Aquarium - sigh.....

Today's snap is from about a year ago from a visit we made to the Aquarium at Dubai Mall. That's my hand next to a 'Giant Japanese Crab' or Macrocheira kaempferi which is, I believe, the largest species of crab on Earth (in terms of 'length' - it is not the heaviest). These crabs were actually fairly small specimens.

I was at the Munchkins' school yesterday when I heard the big tank at the Dubai Mall had a leak. The news that first came out in our local press that is was a 'minor' or 'small' leak.

Here's the most 'complete' coverage I've seen on the story. This link actually uses info from several sources. Definitely take time to watch the brief video.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1253700/Dubai-Mall-evacuated-cracks-appear-giant-aquarium.html

I used to work for an aquarium (it was brief, and many years ago). Upon hear about the leak, my first thought was for the critters. My second thought was for the aquarium staff. When you work for an aquarium, 'your' tanks are your pride and joy.

And of course my kids thought, "Oh no! We hope our favorite candy store didn't get flooded!" Really, our favorite candy store in this part of the world is right near where the leak was. Any time we are in Dubai (and we have time), that's where we go to get a special sweet treat. Hopefully I'm spelling it correctly, but it's called Candilicious. Fun place just to walk through.

Hope all is well for the aquarium now. It really is a cool place.

Peace.

Ex-pat worms, allergies, and crazy stuff

Well, we've had quite the morning here. Got a call from the school saying that Munchkin #1 was in the health office after nearly passing out during a dress rehearsal for his choir concert. Blood pressure was crazy, pulse was crazy, kid was white as a ghost - even his lips were white. The Husband made the drive in from his office, we met up at school. After debating to call an ambulance or just drive him, we drive him to our doctor/clinic here. School had 'rehydrated' him via juice and water to the tune of 3/4 L. Got him to the doc. Blood test etc later, doc says, basically - A bit dehydrated and had a nervous system reaction to being tired and nervous while fighting a touch of a cold. Munchkin #1 is now happily watching movies in his room chugging Gatorade. Oh the joy.....

Munchkin #2 has been having some really nasty tummy troubles. Tummy ache combined with headache. She is now off wheat and sorta off dairy while we sort out if it's allergies or worms. Oh the joy....

The first fecal test has come back negative for worms so we get to try to make more poopy this afternoon. If that comes back negative, then we run blood work. Doc here said he recommends that all ex-pats here automatically de-worm their kids every two years because worms in kids are so very common here. Oh the joy......

I took Invertebrate Zoology back in my university days. I remember looking at all those 'worms' in petri dishes and under the dissecting scope and thinking, "Where was that thing last living? How totally yuck." Poor munchkins. Where we live is nice, but many days it sure feels like we're living in the 'developing world.'

Oh the joy of the ex-pat life style.

Peace.

Wow, Loads of news this morning

Today's snap is of the lovely little island of Cyprus in the city of Larnaca.

The news stories I'm posting links to today are a real mixed bag. All of them made me go "Wow" or "Hmmmm".

http://gulfnews.com/news/region/iran/iran-warns-airlines-on-arabian-gulf-1.587195

This story, if I'm reading correctly - I really need more coffee, is about those little maps that airlines have on board for passengers showing where the plane is on the globe. Folks who don't live in this region may not be aware of all the discussion about 'The Gulf.' I never even knew about it let alone thought about it until I moved to this region. At any rate, I'm not sure why the country in question (ie their transport ministry) is taking this stand. The article in The Gulf News is interesting, but it will be even more interesting to see how folks react to it.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article7037062.ece

I'm posting this because I know that many of my readers will be interested in this but might not be aware of it. The times they are a changin'.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article7035878.ece

This article just makes me so very sad. I was raised believing that governments should protect and serve the needs of their people. Yes, governments can take many shapes and forms - I know I feel safe where I live. But, I mean really, is NK government really protecting and serving the needs of its people? I think not.

Time to find some more coffee.

Peace.

Reading my blog? I'm posting IP addresses.

It has come to my attention that someone is frequently visiting my blog using Rippers 0 as their browser. If you are copying anything from this blog, you need to understand that unless you have my permission, what you are doing is not legal. Obviously, if you are a legitimate organization reading my blog, then no worries from me. But, each time I see Rippers 0 being used to access this blog, I am posting the location and IP address.

Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia Internet Service Unit Isu (212.138.47.13)

Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia Internet Service Unit Isu (212.138.47.15)

Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi ArabiaInternet Service Unit Isu (212.138.47.12)

If you are 'ripping', I'm publishing your IP addresses.

Wow....totally....

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/crime/al-mabhouh-assassins-in-dubai-left-few-traces-police-1.584276

I've been following this story a bit. What was surprising to me about it (if you watch the 27 minute video bit) is the amount of information that can be collected on someone. Not that I mind information being collected about 'bad guys' (as my munchkins call people on the telly who commit crimes), but wow.... I've noticed security cameras around. For instance, we have them in the building where I live. I think about crimes that get committed back in the home country, and I don't think I've ever seen security camera images on the news as clear as the ones shown through Gulf News.

This also makes me wonder about what information is collected about everyday normal folks (ie those of us who are NOT 'bad guys.') I wonder what somebody would think about all the newspapers I read on-line? I wonder what somebody would think about my internet searches for bits of information? Hmmm.... They'd probably think, "Golly. This lady needs to get a life! Look at all the time she spends reading!" Sigh.....

The thing that is totally creepy to me about this whole news story is that these 'bad guys' all looked pretty normal. But, I have to admit, I don't think I've seen folks in this part of the world walking around with tennis rackets like that. Of course, I don't exactly spend that much time hanging out in fancy hotels either. If I have ever seen folks with tennis equipment, they usually have it in some kind of bag. All in all, really creepy stuff.

I still feel very safe living in this region of the world.

Peace.

Hope is brewing

I just got back from a very special gathering near Greece and Turkey. It was a gathering of folks like me who offer their time and talents to serve others. It was an amazing few days of meetings. I met folks who really work to help those in need. I met 'every day easy going' folks who are doing what they can in their corner of the world to help others. It was truly an inspirational few days.

What made this gathering exceptional was the fact that these people came from so many different countries. Back in the home country, a gathering like this would be amongst people who live fairly close to one another. Because of the region of the world in which I find myself, this type of gathering here becomes an international affair since we are all so spread out.

As I read about racism brewing in so many places, this kind of gathering gives me hope. We all must work not to let color blind us. We all must work not to allow racism to creep in to our daily lives. With so many people from so many places working so very hard to help make this world a better place, one just has to hope. Hope is brewing here. Is hope brewing where you are?

Peace.

Patience

"Have patience, have patience. Don't be in such a hurry. When you get impatient you only start to worry...." This was from a little song I used to sing along with on my record player as a little kid. I was humming it to myself today as I was leaving the market.

I needed groceries. Munchkin #1 was playing at a friend's house, so Munchkin #2 and I went to get food. The store was packed. After waiting for a parking spot for about 5-10 minutes (really, it wasn't a bad wait), we managed an excellent parking space.

After we finished with our shopping, we had 4 large reusable grocery bags that were rather full. My vehicle of choice is smallish and has almost no cargo space. As I proceeded to wrestle my bags into my vehicle, I noticed (and Munchkin #2 pointed out to me) that there was a large SUV waiting for my parking space. And, stacked up behind the SUV was a long line of cars. Being fully aware of the chaos behind me, I was doing my best to be speedy about things. People began to honk. The security guy came up to me and pointed out to me that the big SUV was waiting for my spot. As I helped my daughter into my vehicle, I told the security guy that the SUV would have to be patient and wait like everyone else does for a space, and that I was already moving as quickly as possible.

What was mind-blowing about the whole thing was the fact that security came and told me to hurry rather than tell the SUV to simply go down the next row to the EMPTY spot. Frankly, I almost felt like saying, "Oh wow. I forgot something. I need to go back into the store," and then proceed inside to roam about a bit just because.

Good thing I didn't lose my patience. I was very close. And so goes life in a place that still some days feels very foreign.

Peace.

Scape goats?

Are you familiar with the term 'scape goat'? (Sorry if I mess this next bit up a tad...) At one point amongst some people, it was the practice for a spiritual leader to place all the bad stuff done by a people on/into a sacrificial goat. That goat was then released out into the desert/barren place to wander and who knows what else.... It was the goat that escaped being sacrificed up on an altar. Or did it really escape at all?

Well, I was reading news this morning since my tummy is a touch out of whack, and I don't feel like leaving the house quite yet. I came across this story: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/05/world/americas/05orphans.html?partner=rss&emc=rss Yes, these people broke the law. Yes, I feel that what they tried to do was wrong. But, this quote from that story says it all:

“Haiti’s decision to prosecute the Baptist missionaries may be motivated, in
part, by the need to show its own people and the world that it is a viable
entity that is tackling the grave problem of international child abductions in
Haiti,” Christopher J. Schmidt, a lawyer with Bryan Cave L.L.P. in St. Louis who
has been involved in multiple cases of international kidnapping, said in a
statement.

Are these people really criminals or just very ignorant? I mean really, what do you think? The story makes it sound like the team leader may have had an idea about potential consequences, but did the rest of the team? I think these folks are gonna become scape goats because they were an easy target. I hope rational thought prevails.

How to Aid? That is the Question......

(This snap is from my wanderings in a souq. It has nothing to do with the rest of this post.)

Hang onto your socks folks; this post may be a bit controversial. This is merely my not so humble opinion. This is not news. Ok. Read on.

I've been following the news coming out of Haiti (as so much of the world has been). I read this piece this morning:
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wirestory?id=9709773&page=1

I mean, wow. Those poor kids, and those poor Baptists - wow.

Now, for my maybe controversial comments.

I have done a bit of 'aid work' with the desperately poor in the aftermath of a natural disaster. I'd had some training for what I was called to do, but I don't know if ANYTHING can prepare you for the aftermath of a really bad disaster. I remember how in this age of technology, families were trying to find each other by scribbles on bits of paper and cardboard posted with names and phone numbers on any flat surface that they could attach a sign to. It felt to many like the 'aftermath' would go on forever in all its horror. But, it does get better. Sometimes it takes a long time, but it does eventually get better. And, aid workers/volunteers must remember that. If you don't remember that, you will lose your focus.

When you think of 'aid', what comes to mind? Digging wells for clean drinking water? Passing out food? Building a house? Volunteering time and talent to teach? Are these good things to do? Yes, of course they are. But, not all things fit all situations. Do the recipients of the aid even want it? Hmmmm....here things get fuzzy....

My father-in-law told me a story once from the time he was with the UN. He was speaking to a village 'elder' in a rather remote place. He told the village 'elder' that a new well was being dug for the village. The elder was surprised, "Why? Our water from the river is fine. What we need is a place to play football. We need a place where we can watch the football game. This is what they have in other places. This is what we need." Yes, this village probably could have benefited from a new well with cleaner drinking water, but to them, it was not what they 'needed.'

I have traveled in a region where the children were so used to 'aid' being given to them, that they were surprised and frustrated when it was not given. This was a region that had become dependent on 'aid.' Should we still try to help? Yes, of course, but aid givers must very cautious and listen to what the aid recipients are saying.

Having traveled to numerous countries, it boggles my mind that anyone could believe that crossing a border with a child without documentation is a good idea. Was this situation an attempt at rendering aid? I don't know. (My personal guess - it was. I think professional 'bad guys' would have dealt with things differently. But what do I know? Nothing.) But, it blows my mind that someone would think about let alone attempt to try it. I'm curious about what 'aid' giving experience this group of Baptists had before they went to Haiti? What training had they had before they left U.S. soil for Haiti? What international travel had any of them ever done?

So, the question stands. How do we aid? It's a tough question. Do I have a great answer? No, I do not. But, I can say that aid should not be undertaken lightly. Should we do our best to help those in need? Absolutely. It's the 'how' we do our best that gets fuzzy.

Peace.