Archive for May, 2010

We, UAE nationals…

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

Why is it so hard to believe that Emiratis are just like anyone else from any other country in the world? I mean, I keep on hearing so many lame stereotyped comments and misconception about us that makes me either pity other people’s ignorance or simply, i find myself raged. Here is a list of common beliefs about us Emaratis that I always come across, even until last night!

1) All Emirati females are obsessed with makeup & high-brand-expensive handbags.

I must admit that girls over here are crazy about fashion, but seriously, doesn’t every girl in the world care about her looks? I do believe some people over do it, but that’s only natural for any female whether  she’s in the UAE, India , Hawai, Finland or the USA! No not every single girl wears tons of makeup over here,  and No, we don’t all carry Chanels & Hermes :P

2) Our villas are built over Oil & Gas fields

It pisses me off when you got to any shop where you can bargain, and the seller (mostly Shami, indian or Philipino) would say: “why are you bargaining over 100 dhs? you “locals” can afford everything!
Like seriously? I really didn’t know that my father has his own Oil refinery station, or maybe we have a bank dug under our land? or wait a minute, maybe because my father is LOCHAL, he MUST BE a business man, of course he is!! or no no, maybe he does work in some governmental authority and earns like 800,000 AED per month? Those who think this way about us must seriously get a life, or maybe some education. Like any other society, there are high class, middle class and low class families in the UAE, there are families who own businesses, those who have normal jobs, and those who barely live on their weak salaries. Just because  a lot of us live a decent life and Alhamdulillah have everything we need, doesn’t mean we’re billionaires.
Emirati’s, actually, Arabs in general are generous people. You rarely find Arabic parents who don’t provide well for their kid, even if they take more than one job each throughout their entire lives. You’ll notice that in restaurants, it’s Arabs most of the time who fight over the bills, and believe it or not, it’s not because our wallets are stacked with CASH, but because it’s something rooted in Arabs, where they spend money  kindheartedly even on strangers.

3) Bentleys , Mercedes benz & Ferrari’s are the only cars you see on our roads

Who doesn’t like a fancy car? (I prefer practical cars :P).
Drive around Jumairah road and Al Dhiyafa road in Dubai, or Al Corniche in Abu Dhabi, and checkout those LOCHALS driving their killer cars.
Just one question, haven’t people ever heard of Banks?  loans? hello?
Lesson of the day: Some people can afford luxurious rides, some buy them through monthly installments & others can’t afford them whatsoever. Is it hard to believe it happens in this part of the world as well?

PS. A big number of Arabs, Asians & Europeans drive luxurious cars over here too, maybe you can stare at them for a change?

4) Emirati females wear tents.

We are hidden under tents you know, those tents are called “Abayas” I’m so sorry you think they look like tents but guess what, in some places around the world, people cover up with feather and animal skin, why aren’t those customs intimidating for those who make fun?
Abayas are a fashionable thing over here, they’re traditional, cultural and they are DECENT. Never mind all the new silly Abayas you see around these days (the Ali Baba Pants Abaya is hillarious btw lol) but even many non-emiratis have commented on how beautiful, fashionable and elegant they are, especially plain black Abayas. Maybe people need to actually talk to Girls in Abayas & ask them how they feel about it, we don’t bite & we do speak English by the way, well most of us at least. And trust me, very few girls are forced to wear it, and if it was something we are forced to wear, you wouldn’t find thousands of Abaya shops and designers, with some that can cost over 20,000 dhs per design, and you wouldnt find girls tailoring a new abaya every few days.

PS. we don’t really wear pajamas under our Abayas. We wear casual clothes, you know like T-shirts? jeans? Jallabayas? you know like normal clothes? :P

5) Emirati employees don’t work. Receptionists, call center operators ?  A job fit for an Emirati!

At work, i have come across lousy employees, those that you get to see 3 times a week if your lucky. I have also come across those who whine 100 million times per minute, or those who think coming to work means breakfasting, a bit of socializing, and a teeny bit of actual work (when they suddenly feel like they have to earn their salaries at the last 30 minute of their workday). Guess what? A lot of those I came across were Emiratis, and an even bigger lot were expats! Please try to believe me.

I have worked for almost 4 years, and the majority of those around me were expats (5% nationals?) the nature of our work was hectic and most of the time, you’ll end up staying till late at night. I have seen both locals and expats strive to do their best at work. I have also seen expats who NEVER leave their desks unless for a call of nature, but if you monitor their workload, you’ll see that they don’t really have anything to do, but they leave an impression of the mighty workaholics. You see again, this has nothing to do with nationalities. It’s your personality &  experience that determines the type of employee you’ll be.

PS: I am an Emirati, and i can do more than answering phone calls or smile at people in the reception area.

Oh my, I wanna go on and on, but I’m not supposed to be typing here, I have DEADLINES to meet!!

By the way, I am an Emirati and i do go to school ;)

Until i complain again….

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An update loaded with images..

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

Yup.. it’s been so long… and yup, I’ve been running around like a headless chicken, even when I’m sitting, I’m still running around :P … so many things have been going on, so many obligations, so many tasks and deadlines & meetings, it’s soo hectic which is depriving me from sleep, but Al Hamdulilla, despite it all , the support of those around me keeps me going… I’m thankful for my family.. for my sisters who i cannot imagine a day without seeing them… for my friends who i sincerely apologize to for being too busy to be in contact with..
I miss Miracle, more than i can describe..  She’s always on my mind, in my prayers & even in my dreams… she’s the first person i think of every new day.. & every night…
I miss Reem, I miss the special person she is..
I miss alwaslgirl, I can breath in relief when talking to her..
I miss Noha, who I know will be SO angry at me for not answering her calls *ya maamy she scares me!*

Again I have to disappear,  but before I do so, here are a few highlights of what has been going on in my life…

fishies

I now have pets! I’m one of those who are scared of animals, but these are OK to feed & look at :P… here are the three musketeers, who I prefer to call *monkeys* why? because they’re literally monkeys! all day long they’ll be jumping in and out of the water making a *blop* sound.

fishieswithblack
the black ones is actually cute, she (or he?) keeps hugging the monkeys all the time OR swimming after them lol

graduation1
honestly, i almost forgot that sooner or later i’d graduate.. i feel like i’ve been doing my bachelors for centuries!

graduation2

graduation3
As much as i suffered, it was well worth it :)

graduationRose

Oh, and by the way, my dad is the sweetest on the face of earth… a 24 Karat Gold Rose? He knows how to pick unique gifts :)

graduationYoshi

& that.. i will keep for myself.. a surprise that made me love yoshi even more <3

My next update will be a review about Moo.com, stay tuned ;)

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