Abu Dhabi Time
People often ask me what it is really like to live in the Middle East. Well, spending so much time in the city can really detach you from the reality that exists just miles from you. Abu Dhabi is glitz, glamour, and sparkles. Within a 20 minute drive you find yourself getting to the old school desert. And sometimes that can be a bigger experience than everything the city has to offer.
My friend Alison's parents Barbara and Larry came for a visit. In addition to doing the typical tourist sights, we decided to take them out to the Al Wathba camel race track. The camel races take place early in the morning, so we left our apartments at 7:00am and arrived at the racetrack around 7:40am. No cars were there and we saw groups of camels leaving the track. Once you leave the city area of Abu Dhabi, English becomes a rarity. We tried asking a few men in trucks if there would be any more races, they had no idea what we were saying. We stopped at a gas station and got something like "Maybe 15 kilometers straight".. Uh, ok.... So we drove and drove and there was nothing but sand dunes. I turned the car around and we saw a camel farm on the side of the road with some men near the road, so I pulled off to ask them in my mixture of English and broken Arabic if there were more camel races. It was something like me making a circle motion with my hand for "races" and combining my common Arabic catchphrases of "mafi" ("there is no") and "khalas" ("finished"). I can't remember how it really occurred but the men motioned for us to come out of the car. I think they thought we wanted to ride their camels?? Anyway, we got out and toured the camel farm. One of the men and I made a really good effort.. him trying his broken English, and me trying my broken Arabic, and both of us playing a lot of charades. But you know what? We actually communicated! Sure there were plenty of times I had no idea what he was saying, (at one point he was pointing to the camel, saluting, and saying "captain"... Was the camel the captain? Was the camel the property of someone important? I don't know, I just did a lot of smiling and nodding), but then there were other times when I deciphered that he was telling me this camel was pregnant, and he was from Sudan, and that he wanted me to get him an American visa (that last one was very clear)!
This day was really somewhat of a turning point for my experience here... It reminded me to step out of my comfort zone. It allowed me to use my little bit of Arabic and feel more confident about it. It also was just an authentic, genuine experience between human beings. Curiosity is human, and I think the men were just as curious about us as we were about them. They were warm and welcoming and fun to hang out with, even if communication was minimal and/or difficult. It just reminds me that some of my most memorable experiences here won't be in the glitz and glamour, but out in the sand, dust, and camel poop.
Alison's dad happens to be a photographer and got some excellent pictures!
Here are some of my favorite moments from that day!
My friend Alison's parents Barbara and Larry came for a visit. In addition to doing the typical tourist sights, we decided to take them out to the Al Wathba camel race track. The camel races take place early in the morning, so we left our apartments at 7:00am and arrived at the racetrack around 7:40am. No cars were there and we saw groups of camels leaving the track. Once you leave the city area of Abu Dhabi, English becomes a rarity. We tried asking a few men in trucks if there would be any more races, they had no idea what we were saying. We stopped at a gas station and got something like "Maybe 15 kilometers straight".. Uh, ok.... So we drove and drove and there was nothing but sand dunes. I turned the car around and we saw a camel farm on the side of the road with some men near the road, so I pulled off to ask them in my mixture of English and broken Arabic if there were more camel races. It was something like me making a circle motion with my hand for "races" and combining my common Arabic catchphrases of "mafi" ("there is no") and "khalas" ("finished"). I can't remember how it really occurred but the men motioned for us to come out of the car. I think they thought we wanted to ride their camels?? Anyway, we got out and toured the camel farm. One of the men and I made a really good effort.. him trying his broken English, and me trying my broken Arabic, and both of us playing a lot of charades. But you know what? We actually communicated! Sure there were plenty of times I had no idea what he was saying, (at one point he was pointing to the camel, saluting, and saying "captain"... Was the camel the captain? Was the camel the property of someone important? I don't know, I just did a lot of smiling and nodding), but then there were other times when I deciphered that he was telling me this camel was pregnant, and he was from Sudan, and that he wanted me to get him an American visa (that last one was very clear)!
This day was really somewhat of a turning point for my experience here... It reminded me to step out of my comfort zone. It allowed me to use my little bit of Arabic and feel more confident about it. It also was just an authentic, genuine experience between human beings. Curiosity is human, and I think the men were just as curious about us as we were about them. They were warm and welcoming and fun to hang out with, even if communication was minimal and/or difficult. It just reminds me that some of my most memorable experiences here won't be in the glitz and glamour, but out in the sand, dust, and camel poop.
Alison's dad happens to be a photographer and got some excellent pictures!
Here are some of my favorite moments from that day!
Alison and Rae asking for directions at the gas station.
Me with some of my new friends:
Alison and her mom with some of the guys:
This is the Emirati owner of the camel farm:
Selfie first person perspective:
Selfie third person perspective:
Selfie approved!
This is the "teacher".. I am pretty sure he was trying to tell me the trainer. Close enough!
Larry on the angry camel!
A beautiful photo taken by Larry:
Another nice picture taken by Larry of a man washing dishes.
The guys thought it was cool we gave them American money.
A protective mama and her baby.
As we were leaving we noticed two men playing in the sand.. They were making art out of camel poop!!
Last but not least: This camel was ANGRY. Here is the video!
I'll sign off on this note:
PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST!!!
Yay! Nicely done!
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