Exploring Abu Dhabi

Started the day in Abu Dhabi looking out at the sunrise from the top floor of my daughter's apartment house.

They have a wonderful gym there. Later that morning I decided to overcome my fears and venture out alone in the neighborhood. I tried a new route and discovered an American International School I did not know was there.

Then a few blocks later I found a French school for children. What a great opportunity for children to be immersed in a foreign language. I found a bank that said it was for women, so I assumed only women were allowed in.

However, I found men using the ATM! Throughout the neighborhood there is a mix of shops for laundry, supermarkets, Starbucks, restaurants, tailoring shops, flower and candy store, bakery specializing in cupcakes a gents saloon for men( a barber shop) and a beauty shop for women, just to name a few.
     I learned that at some religiously conservative hotels, such as the one we stayed at in Dubai, unmarried couples who try to share a room are turned away.

Another useful tidbit about hotels is that when you enter the room you put your electronic key in this device to turn on the power.

I learned this the hard way a few years ago when I couldn't get the lights to turn on at an airport hotel!Also I was surprised when I first saw machines that both washed and dried clothes!

However, most people use frying racks to dry their clothes.
      When you stop to get gas at a plaza , there is a prayer room as well.

A new destination on the side of the road between Abu Dhabi and Dubai is a food truck stop. There were at least 20 food trucks! Here was the eye catching sign as well as what it looks like.

Also people are very friendly here. Even though it has been a year since I was here, the lifeguards at the pool remembered me as did the women at the beauty salon.

My daughter's co-worker even sent home a beautiful scarf as a welcoming present.

      We plan on attending exercise classes such as Zumba, Body Pump, and Pilates at a nearby gym. There are some classes designated "Ladies Only", which is common here, as is also a completely  "Ladies Only" gym.

The Convent Baby

On January 29, 1994, our 8th child, Brian Cullen, came into the world. He came under somewhat unusual circumstances. Our family was living in a convent- St. Joseph's Convent on Cabbage Hill In Lancaster,PA.

It was Super Bowl weekend and there was lots of snow. I was afraid the streets would be impassable and I couldn't get to the hospital.

However, everything went well and he arrived safely.
      You may be wondering why we were living in a convent. Our house on Church Street

was being renovated so we packed up 7 children, 2 dogs, 6 cats, and moved to the second and third floors of the convent that we rented from St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Our rent covered  having 16 bedrooms and endless bathrooms. Each child claimed a bedroom and a study!The downside was that there was no kitchen so we converted a bedroom into a kitchen with a microwave and a hot plate. The church brought in a refrigerator and we did the dishes in a bathtub. No more than one appliance at a time could be on or we would blow a fuse! There was a washer in the basement, but no dryer so we hung everything on racks or on the radiators.
       Brian was and is an adorable redhead. Here are some photos

.We often joked that his sister Joan and him were twinsies.

One more boy came after Brian (Francis)  to make him part of the Cullen Clan of 9,

He grew up to be an very intelligent young man, who was salutatorian at Lancaster Catholic High School

and he graduated summa cum laude from the Fox Business School in the Honors Program at Temple University,

While at Temple he loved to play rugby.

He also has a great sense of humor,

He just passed all 4 CPA exams and is working at PwC in Philly.I look forward to seeing what God has in store for his life ahead!! Happy 23rd birthday, Brian. We love you!!

     

Life Lessons from Ironman Dubai 70.3

    Until my daughter Bridget was involved in an Ironman 70.3, I had no idea what it was. Here is the definition:The "70.3" refers to the total distance in miles (113.0 km) covered in the race, consisting of a 1.2-mile (1.9 km) swim, a 56-mile (90 km) bike ride, and a 13.1-mile (21.1 km) run. Each distance of the swim, bike, and run segments is half the distance of that segment in an Ironman triathlon. Bridget is part of a relay team meaning: one member named Jeffry did the swim portion, her friend, Kimberly did the bike part and Bridget did the run.

     They are all part of an amazing triathlon team called One Endurance. The night before the race, many of the members and their families all came together for a meal at Chili's.  . This is like a second family for the members.

    At the pre-race briefing they announced the participants were from over 100 countries!! They  showed the flags of every country represented and  many I had never heard of. At every turn I could hear people speaking foreign languages. 

     As I watched the people in the race, I noticed there were people of all shapes and sizes,but all united to do this one event to prove to themselves that they can accomplish what they set out to do. Nothing is impossible.One man was pushing his disabled son for the entire race. He always got a lot of cheers!

However, it was heartbreaking to see people dropping  out due to injuries or mechanical problems with their bike.
     After the race I took a taxi back to the hotel. The driver said he was from Bangladesh and was in Dubai for 25 years. When I told him I was from the USA he immediately said, "Your President Trump wants to built a big wall around Mexico." Then he laughed and said,"Oh my God!" His family is still in Bangladesh because it is too expensive in Dubai. He gets to see them during the 2 month vacation the taxi company gives him. The other months he lives in company supplied housing with 6 men living in one room. He send his money home to support his family. This makes you really appreciate your blessings.
      


      

Random Facts about the United Arab Emirates

      More than six years ago when my my daughter Bridget said she was thinking about teaching in Abu Dhabi, I had NO CLUE where she was talking about. The words United Arab Emirates was foreign to me. I could not pick it out on a map. Since then, I have learned a little  more about the UAE. Here is a website with more information:http://government.ae/en/uae. Below is a map of the UAE.The United Arab Emirates consists of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah. Four-fifths of the UAE is desert but has contrasting landscapes. In 1971, the late President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan unified the small, underdeveloped states into a federation—the only one in the Arab world. In 2004, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan became the President..

 

My daughter was recruited to teach in the Abu Dhabi schools by a group from Canada called Teach Away. I was surprised to learn that tens of thousands of people from many foreign countries live here.

Random facts:

1. The currency is called dirhams. Here is the exchange rate:1 USD = AED 3.67

I recently went to the grocery store and this is what a receipt looks like.

 You have to divide by 3.6 to get an idea of what you are paying in US dollars.

2. All of the laborer jobs are done by workers from foreign countries like the Philippines, Nepal, Pakistan, India etc. Almost every time yo use a pubic toilet there will a person there ready to clean it immediately after you use it.

I notice the country is very neat and clean.

3. When I go to the grocery store I can find fresh produce from all over the world. Here is a photo from the grocery store called Spinneys where the country of origin is listed for every produce product.

4. Many brand name products found in the USA are also sold here. In fact, I was surprised to learn that Turkey Hill ice tea and ice cream are sold here!!

5. The UAE is very conscious about the environment and promotes sustainability in many different ways. Every year there is a big conference in Abu Dhabi. In fact, we saw this car covered in grass to promote an upcoming car free day in Dubai!

6. When you plug anything into an outlet or turn on the stove etc,  you have to flight a switch to turn on the power to that outlet.

7. I was surprised at the large number of Christian churches in the UAE. When I attended Mass at the Cathedral in Abu Dhabi it was packed. 

8. If you go to a hospital to have a baby you MUST have a marriage license or you will be denied admission.

9. New York University has a campus in Abu Dhabi.

10. The Cleveland Clinic has a site in Abu Dhabi.

11. Almost all USA restaurants and Fast Food chains are here. For example, there are alot of Subways here.

12. Women bodybuilding contests are held here.

13. They have an indoor ski resort and ice skating rink.

14. Some roadside bathrooms only have holes in the ground to squat and go.

15. Toilets have both toilet paper and a hose to use as an alternative.

16, Modesty in dress in public is required.

17. Legoland recently opned in Dubai.https://www.legoland.com/dubai/

Flying out to Abu Dhabi! Part 1

After months of planning, I finally left Lancaster PA  on January 23, 2017 at noon to leave for the Dulles International Airport in Washington, DC. Fortunately, my neighbor, Pastor Jose Rivera,

kindly offered to drive me right to the airport. This was a relief as I had 2 pieces of luggage and a carry-on. He brought along two young men as traveling companions. I was surprised to learn that one of the young men, Michael Quinones, was a classmate of my daughter, Theresa, at McCaskey High School.

The ride went quickly and before I exited the van, Pastor Rivera and Michael took time to hold hands with me and pray that I would have a safe trip! This gave me so much peace and confidence that everything would be ok!

      I had never been to Dulles but I was surprised how uncrowded and quiet it was. A porter helped me to the Etihad Airways counter where I was told it didn't open until 6:00p.m.! Crazy! I had a 2 1/2 hour wait. Fortunately I enjoy people watching. A number of people were waiting who were going to India.I talked to a woman who was going to Mumbai  and  I found out she was from Clarion, PA! This is where my daughter, Joan, went to college. We were able to bond about stories about Clarion and the Cook Forest. I also noticed several women wearing the pink knitted hats from the Women's March held on Saturday. Since there were areas of the airport that had no passengers, I used the space to do a series of exercises designed by my trainer, Josh March, of Empower Training Systems that can be done anywhere with no equipment. I really feel this helped my muscles prepare for the long 12 hour flight. Here is where I was able to exercise:

     Etihad Airways' stewardesses have some of the most elegant uniforms. The one that was closest to me was Alexandra. See how they wear leather gloves and a beautiful beret as the guests exit!

   The 12 hour flight went much better than in the past. I watched Deepwater Horizon, since it was recommended by my friend, Michele Quigley, Then I watched 3 episodes of a New Zealand TV show called "800 Words". I highly recommend it. Before I knew it, I had landed in Abu Dhabi. Here is the welcome sign.

I noticed there was a smoking cubicle and realized you really have to be addicted to close yourself up in the box filled with cigar and cigarette smoke.

I also noticed something new- sleeping lounges that you could pay for if you needed to rest between flights.

My daughter Bridget picked me up and I was happy to see the Sheik Zayed Mosque lit up in blue. The unique lightning system was designed to reflect the phases of the moon. Soft undulating clouds of a bluish gray color are projected onto the white marble external surfaces of the mosque including the façade and domes.  Each day appears a little different from the next as the lighting cycle commences with darker clouds when the month is in its early stages and the moon is a small crescent.  As the moon progresses through its cycle and becomes full, so does the lighting effect become more brilliant.  There are twenty-two light towers  to achieve this creative effect.  For more information see:http://www.szgmc.ae/en/