The complaint :(

Well, I'm not loving it so far! 2 lessons in and I had my first complaint. I can't remember the last time a student complained about my teaching. To be fair, they didn't actually complain about my teaching this time. Apparently I'm not being nice and friendly enough to them. Now, where did I put those kid gloves? Oh, that's right. I never owned a pair!

The wonders of A/C

I've been here 2 weeks and I still have a runny nose from living with constant air conditioning. Imagine what I'm going to be like after 2 months; I might not have any fluids left in my body :0

Students...the same the world over

Ah...even though it's only been a few weeks since I last taught, I'd forgotten how hideous that first class is. Especially when you have really motivated people and others who don't give a sh*t.

Couchsurfing will find a way

Apparently, the religious or cultural sensibilities of UAE might be in danger if the couchsurfing website is allowed. I'm not quite sure how that works when they allow Hospitality Club, but who am I to question these kinds of decision?
Of course, the ban hasn't stopped me meeting up with local surfers both here in Abu Dhabi and in Dubai.

Hop fest

The first order of the day after my move to United Arab Emirates was to go to a beer festival! It was a bit random being in a marquee in the Irish Village in the middle of Dubai, surrounded by Europeans drinking beers from around the world. But it was fun ;)

Malls

Apparently, Dubai has more shopping malls per capita than any other place on earth. That is a pretty impressive statistic. I wonder if it is only Dubai or if this fact could apply to the whole of the UAE.

I've visited 2 of the major shopping centres in Abu Dhabi since I've been here and they are quite impressive, in a weird kind of way.

Marina Mall is massive. It has a full size Ikea, Carrefour, and multiplex cinema, but the most impressive feature was the rain. Yes, rain. Sitting in a coffee shop-cum-restaurant on the first floor with some newly acquired friends, we were a little disconcerted to see the lights go off. The next event was even more worrying; thunder and lightning. Remember we are inside a shopping mall in August in the United Arab Emirates at this point, not outside in the street in the UK in winter. The ceiling was painted to resemble sky and there were lights behind it so that it can change from blue sky with fluffy white clouds to grey sky with menacing dark clouds. Excellent. Not only that, but there are holes in the roof out of which comes water. So, here we are sitting, having dinner in a mall and it's raining next to us. To top it off though, when we looked over the banister for the fountain below, we were disappointed. Instead, what we saw was a man from the sub-continent with a mop and bucket. What a masterpiece of design!

Arriving in Abu Dhabi

Here is the view from the gym in the complex I'm living in - Hilton serviced apartments no less! Excuse the rubbish photography. It's not my strong point!