Abu Dhabi, Touring and Meeting Local Emiratis

The last four weeks have been excellent...

We traveled to Abu Dhabi, stayed in the lovely and upscale Intercontinental Hotel. Amazingly plush and fancy hotel... visited the Abu Dhabi Film Festival (viewed Death For Sale a Moroccan film, and Sacrifice a Chinese film)... and so much more

Abu Dhabi Marina, viewed from the Intercontinental Hotel

Downtown Abu Dhabi, from the Corniche and heritage Village near Marina Mall

Abu Dhabi Sunset at Abu Dhabi public beach

      Research has been slow, but I'm keeping that fairly close to the cuff for now. I've read myriads of papers regarding Emirati women, culture, and history. There have been long nights of reading and a few inquiries into a more developed survey regarding Emirati women leaders and community development.

I've loved Al Ain, and spent many weekends elsewhere. The United Arab Emirates University has been wonderful, and I've met so many amazing young ladies.

This week's story of cultural kindness from Emirati ladies:

    During a week of attempting to get my license, I ran into a few difficulties. First, one must have the Emirates ID if living on a work visa within UAE. This is, generally speaking a 2 step process of the application through the proper center, and processing with an appointment at Emirates ID office. After securing the Emirates ID, one must get a certified copy of a driver's license from back home. In my case, this part was proving more challenging.
    After being told there was a translation office near the post office (there wasn't), I went inside to the information desk staffed by, perhaps, the kindest ladies in town. Two local ladies, in stylish post-office abayas, and another Sudanese women were kind enough to go far above and beyond their jobs. While we chatted in Arabic and English, they brought me Turkish coffee, cake, dates and more. They called around, found the correct translation office, found their hours and called ahead for me. In fact, they then drew me a map (I'd actually attempted to find the very same translation office already once before, to no avail) and gave detailed instructions in both Arabic and Engish for my would-be cab driver.
   Thankfully, I am now licensed... but it may have taken much longer without the help of my new friends at the post office in Al Ain.