St Patty's Celebration

So as we all know, St. Patrick's Day is a pretty popular day in the US, with a lot of drunken debauchery and out-of-control behavior. In Abu Dhabi (since it's a Muslim country and you can't easily drink here...), it's a little bit different.



Since St Pattys fell during the middle of the week here, we weren't really going to do much to celebrate, but I ended up going out with 2 guys from work and one of their girl friends from home who was visiting. We went to an Irish bar in the Royal Meridian Hotel that had clearly been open since 2pm (because their were clearly people who had been sitting at the bar since 2, and we arrived around 830). It made for some enjoyable people watching, especially when the ridiculously drunk older women next to us started singing along with the band. Tone deaf and very drunk...also sporting some tall Guiness hats which had clearly been passed out earlier as part of a promotion. As always there were very few Americans, but lots of British and Irish. We mostly just enjoyed the unbelievablely horrible service (and I mean one waitress for the patio that held about 80), and attempted to drink away the fact that we were celebrating St. Patrick's Day in a hotel bar in a city on a Desert Island in a Muslim country. It made for an interesting evening, especially watching the drunk patrons dance to the music of the semi-decent band. Drunk Irishmen have some interesting dance moves...

Upcoming Travel plans

So as I have already mentioned, I am traveling to Florence at the end of the week to see Lizzie and I am SO excited.

But I have recently made new travel plans as well. I am going to India over Easter Weekend (we have Sunday off). I'm going with 2 other guys from work and we are flying into Delhi. I'm not entirely sure where all we are going, but I know the Taj Mahal (one of the guys is in charge of the sightseeing stuff). But I am so excited. If anyone has any advice on things to see near Delhi, let me know.

Beyond that, my life is pretty tame now. The guys that I work with borrowed 2 projectors from the office, so we have been watching a lot of the NCAA games with 3 games going at one time on one of the white walls in their apartment. Very intense, but it's been a nice change (having American sporting events). We have been watching all of the games from cbssports.com and the quality has been really good, so that's a big plus.

It's starting to get a lot warmer here (and more humid), so I'm not quite sure how I will survive the summer...hmmm. Until next time...

why I love iTunes

So despite being halfway around the world (although soon to be only a 9 hour time difference with CST), I am trying to stay connected with what is going on in the world, as well as music and shows, etc. This is why I love iTunes. I have been able to keep up with Season 5 of the office (yes Erin, I still love it and find it hysterical. Tell Joey for me!). But I have also started watching Mad Men, Lost, the Tudors (granted not all on iTunes, some on just regular DVDs). And I love some of the podcasts (when I can download them, which isn't often since the internet in my apt is so slow).

But in case anyone is curious about what I am listening to:
A Hundred Million Suns Album by Snow Patrol (Lizzie - you'd LOVE it)
808s & Heartbreak by Kayne
Year of the Gentleman by Ne-Yo
Plus trying to keep up with all the new "popular" songs...

Although side note: It's hard to believe that a year ago I was in Mexico watching Pam rock out to "Get Low"...Happy Green Beer Day everyone

...It's been a while...

I realize that it's been over 2 months since my last post, but I haven't really felt like I've had that much to say. However, since it is now March and I have been living here for over 4 months, I though I'd give you an update...

Abu Dhabi has not been immune to the economic crisis, despite what most papers published here will say. At the beginning of January, we had layoffs. Obviously, since I have not come back to the States, I managed to keep my job :). There has also been some slowdown in the construction industry here, but since we have a smaller team I am staying just as busy and have had loads of client interaction. So to sum up: Job is busy, but good.

Now on to better things, like my current situation out here. I live in my apartment still alone, and I am the only expat woman left on our team. But I sort of have internet in my apartment now, which is making things a little bit better. It's very slow and won't work on my Mac, but I can check my email and chat.

After the layoffs (at the beginning of January), I was lucky enough to have a visitor for a week. Benji came to see me and we went to Dubai. It was great to see him and take a little vacation from work. At the end of the week, we both returned back to the States. I was in town for about a week and managed to see several of you.

Since then, the month of February flew by. I am convinced that the work week makes that possible. As we work Sunday-Thursday, Sunday never really feels like a real work day, so by the time Thursday rolls around, it's hard to believe the week is over.

At the end of March, I'll be traveling to Florence to visit Lizzie! I am so excited, not only because I haven't seen her since October, but also because I love Florence and am eager to see the city again. Not to mention that by that point, Lizzie should know all the great places (hint, hint).

Beyond that, I don't have too much more to say. But now because I have internet, I will make a much stronger effort to post more regularly with the happenings on the other side of the world.

I miss you all!
The month of February seemed to fly