"Trailer" about Dubai

What I mean by "trailer" is that I after I leave somewhere I have just been, I have afterthoughts about it.....

On the way to Dubai on Emirates Airlines, I was able to watch TV. They had an Arabic version of MTV. Arabic MTV I guess. The songs were all sung in Arabic of course and the videos are much like the music videos in the States. However, the men wear the shiek on their heads. A long, white, flat hood sort of thing w/ a black braided band around the top of the head. Plus, their wardrobe is the long flowing white smock as well. When we landed, some of the men were wearing these. The advertising on the walls had men talking on cell phones, ordering food etc. Very normal activities that we do every day. My first reaction to this dress was "terroist!" Honestly. But by the time I left, I think I was much more de-sensitized to that look. I just saw a man dressed differently. In the business lounge, (I upgraded my seat, so I got the benefit of the business lounge at the airport)...There was a young, handsome Arab man, wearing the shiek, clean-shaven, spoke english fabulously and smelled good. I thought, hmmm, how does he keep that outfit so clean? I wear white and I am dirty w/in 5 minutes, always spilling something or brushing up against something dirty. Anyway, I was very impressed by him and dislodged my narrow thinking of "Dirty Arab." I was actually relieved to just see them as "people."

I saw a few Arab mothers with their young daughters. I am not sure if all children are treated this way or if it just the young girls, but the mothers are very rough with them. One young girl, 5 or 6 maybe, was a trying to get out of my way when I reached into the cooler to get a bottle of water from the store. The mother basically backhanded her and shoved her out of my way, then yanked her arm and marched off down the aisle w/ the girl in tow. Half walking, half dragging. This mother also had her face completely covered except for her eyes...
The second mother was in the business lounge and had her young daughter, maybe not even 2 yrs yet. This little one was wobbling around and exploring the place, testing out her balance and innocent curiosity. Several times the mother came after her and yanked her arm as well and drug the little girl back to their seats. Not one time did either mother hug, kiss, coddle, play, coo w/ their child...nothing even close to sweet mothering that I am used to. I found this to be quite disturbing actually. I didn't like it....

I was at the store in the airport to get toothbrush, toothpaste, water etc. Another man was approaching the checkout line the same time I was. I had 4 items, he had like 54 items. His cart was overflowing w/ his purchases. He made it VERY obvious I was not to go first in front of him and he kept inching forward in front to checkout first. I was like, Dude, seriously, I know women aren't even as good as dirt here, but get real. I have 4 things, you have a ton! Polite? no. Considerate? no. Friendly? no. Then the more I thought about it, the more pissed off I became. It wasn't as if some rude man in the states cut in line, it was more than that and I felt it. I was furious by the time I checked out, it didn't help that it was 2am and I was overly tired.

Additionally, people at the airport, Arabs, Indians were sleeping all over the place..... floors, tables, benches etc. I just figured it was bc it was so late, but what I learned later is that is normal behavior. It was gross honestly. They had no problem sleeping on a dirty floor with their drapes of clothing pulled over their faces. Both men and women as well....

Poop Holes--yes, that is what I will call them. In the bathroom, there were regualar toilets, then there were steel holes in the ground w/ water hoses to spray them for cleaning. Each in it's private stall. Basically you pull up your clothing, squat and go number 2 and then you spray it off and hopefully go wash your hands. From what I could tell, they looked pretty clean, but I waited for a regular toilet. All the white women in the bathroom did the same as I.

There are prayer rooms/mosques in the airport. One for women and one for men. You have to leave your shoes at the entry. I didn't go into one, but I did see the shoes and for a split second I thought it would be funny to grab the shoes and run away. Ha! take that! Probably not a very funny joke, but like I said, it was very early in the morning and I had no sleep. But the shoes stayed w/ the feet they belonged to.

The written language of Arabic is beautiful writting. It is not the American alphabet obviously...but the letters look like they are a version of lower case, soft cursive w/ dots above and below the lettering. I is very pretty to look at, but the spoken language is another story. Very throaty....like you have to clear your throat, thick tongued and aggressive sounding. I couldn't listen to much more of Arab MTV.....

Emirates Airlines--the flight attendants are gorgeous. They definitely hire beauty. I tried to photo them, but the pictures of Dubai didn't turn out well. The ladies had flawless faces and their red hats had a long white scarf that draped down above their bossom and then around their neck. Very formal and very feminine. I was impressed. Not to mention the service was outstanding. Like I said before, I upgraded my seat and it was well worth it. 16 hours of being stuck in coach, NO THANKS.

I sat next to a French woman, Bernadette, on the way to Singapore. I got the cold shoulder the first half of the flight, but I kept working on her and strategically timed my questions to see if she would warm up. Ah-ha! Success! By the end of the flight she was drinking wine w/ me and recommending which wine to get from the menu and what cheeses go w/ which wine and so we tried them all. The cheese plate was fabulous and I really liked her company. She had worked for the airlines prior so we got extra wine since she was one of "them" on the plane. But, when we landed, she collected her belongings, took one last look over her shoulder at me and wished me a good journey, then cut in line w/ the other passengers and briskly walked up the ramp...Bye Bernadette. How bitter sweet the French.