Doing this will get you jail time here.

In many Western countries this is sign means “good job” or “I agree.” However In most of Latin America, West Africa, Greece, Russia, the Middle East, and Italy it basically means “up-yours.” It’s so offensive in several countries in the Middle East that it’s giving this symbol is an arrestable offense.  And I thought the pretty girl at the bar liked me.

Illegal flambé?

…and then quickly declares “Never mind!”  Original article here.  However, it’s already outdated.

As I am currently outside looking in at the UAE, it seems that there is a constant struggle brewing between the local Emirates who make policy over there. On one hand, they need the tourism income and need to maintain the image and feel that Dubai is more European (Western) than Middle Eastern. Underneath it all, however, it is still an Arabic country and the Islamic rules, morals and laws are dearly held sacred by most who are in control. Anyone outside of the UAE paying attention can see the struggle between traditional morals and standards and the necessity to keep the economy afloat. After all, isn’t it in the master plan to make Dubai “the” world’s top tourist destination? British newspapers are already making a big deal about the couple going to jail over a kiss on the cheek. You think that’s going to help tourism? Laws are made, everyone squawks, laws are recinded. It’s actually quite amusing.

Two Emirates Airline cabin crew have been jailed for three months for exchanging lewd text messages. The court said the texts “fulfilled all the necessary angles of coercion to the commitment of sin”.

Sex text messaging is illegal here.

See this article for the entire story.  The headlines fromthe UAE also mention the plight of two expats who have been jailed for kissing at a restaurant.  Although Dubai and Abu Dhabi are more “relaxed” than the rest of the Middle East when it comes to the Islamic moral code, you still have to realize you are in a different culture here and obey the rules. Dubai reminds me of a cross between Newport Beach, California and Las Vegas, Nevada, but that is intentional, in an successful attempt to lure the rest of the world here for tourism and holidays.  Just don’t forget where you really are.

I’m glad I’m happily married.  I’d hate to be single and looking in the UAE. Getting to first base can get you thrown out of the game.

I am not a happy camper. First of all I have a dreadful cold, complete with fever and headache. Every time I fly and breathe all that recirculated air in the airplane, I catch something. Normally, I never get sick. After 30 years of getting my face within inches of my patient’s mouths and soaking my fingers in their saliva all day long, I figure that I have built up quite an immunity to every bug imaginable. However, air travel does me in every time. So I’m not in a good mood to begin with.

All of Portugal looks like this.

Adding insult to injury, I have returned to a country thick in the middle of what would be considered by most as a monsoon. For the past 4 months, southern Portugal has been deluged with almost constant rain, which is not the norm. Our rock and dirt driveway, which is on a slope is for the first time in 10 years really getting soggy. The car has been bottoming out on the frame as the tires dig a deeper and deeper trench into the road. I finally had to reinforce and rebuild the ruts with stones and gravel and for the moment it is holding. One huge deluge will wash it all away, however.

I haven’t gone back to hitting the books yet as my unplanned two month retirement extension forces me to take care of some issues on the home front, preparing for the eventual move and dipping into sparse savings accounts for day to day expenses. I’ll get back into the student mindset next week. It feels really strange waking up these days with no responsibilities and taking wife and daughter to work. Must be a guy thing, I should enjoy it while it lasts.

Cold Wet England

This obviously is not a photo taken in the UAE.  I am in transit back to Portugal to wait another two months to take the exam that I was supposed to take on this trip. I knew I was cutting it close getting all my papers and licenses authenticated and approved in time to make the cut off for taking the exam, and I really thought I had just made it in the nick in time. However, Murphy’s law as it is, was in full force the other day when I was informed that the current exam is full and I will have to wait another two months.  Most people would be quite upset by this, but having lived in Portugal for the past 10 years, and living these kinds of bureaucratic inefficiencies on a daily basis, I will have to look at this as an opportunity to study more and take a much needed vacation. One step forward, two steps back.

Vegetable Market

Although I was thoroughly impressed with the local supermarket’s selection of food items, especially the spice island, I had the feeling that the produce was a little too good looking and large. I have noticed that a lot of the vegetables I have been eating in the local restaurants have no taste, like the vegetables in the USA. Portugal has definitely spoiled me with their organically grown local produce. After a few inquiries I realized that most of what I saw in the way of fresh fruit and vegetables was shipped in from around the world, probably full of pesticides and genetically modified to boot.

Organically Grown

Most health conscious locals take a thirty minute ride out of town to the open air vegetable and fruit market.  Here there is a much greater chance of getting organic foods and most is locally grown or brought in from neighboring countries. Locals bring in their crops and they are purchased by these vendors at an auction. These vendors pay rent for their space and sell them at wholesale to restaurants and to the public. This market used to be in town but was relocated as the real estate they used to sit on was too valuable for this kind of operation. A 20 minute stroll up and down the aisles with my suspicious eyes comforted me as I was able to tell that there are many vendors selling healthy fresh vegetables and fruits. And the prices here are much less than in the supermarkets.