New Year’s Eve in the UAE! Kate lives in Ras al-Khaima, one of the seven emirates. It’s name means “Top of the Tent” and offers lots of sand (like many of the emirates do), which made for a perfect party in the desert! We spent the day relaxing at Kate and Andrew’s (yes, another Andrew) apartment, and then caravanned with friends out to a random spot in the desert. Cars were left near the expressway that wouldn’t be able to cross through the desert. Air was let out of tires of the cars which were able to drive on the sand. Tents were set up. Chicken and lamb was roasted. Drinks were shared. Hugs were given at midnight followed by lanterns being set afloat to bring in the new year! Happy 2013!
The night was a lot of fun. It actually reminded me of a field party in Kentucky. Only with sand dunes. And a really diverse group of expats and Emirates. And the obvious, that it wasn’t in Kentucky. The conversations were awesome, everything from what it’s like to travel through India, how the UAE has changed in the past ten years, trying to converse with a man from Bangladesh, who couldn’t speak English, and even a rousing debate about world economics with a currency trader.
This last conversation led to a very important lesson that I had to learn the hard way. In the UAE, women do not initiate conversation with Emirati men. Had I known this, before I went up to an entire group of them to ask their opinion “If they would rather live in China or the USA in the future, which would they choose?” I probably wouldn’t have had to demand Andrew to change places with me and stand a little closer after one of the Emirati men copped a feel. Seriously, this happened. And it was after I told the Emirati men I was with my husband! – Stop freaking out, we’re not married, we just told everyone in India and the UAE that we were. Furthermore, I was standing right next to Andrew when this happened, but apparently they thought that I was fair game because I initiated conversation with them. Kate later said that the currency trader (an Emirati himself) should have known better than to allow me to approach the men on my own.
When Andrew demanded to know who did it, I told him to let it go. The “it’s your second night in a new country” feeling kicked in, and it wasn’t worth a confrontation. Also, in the midst of that same conversation with the currency trader, he had insisted that women were treated with respect in the UAE, and in Dubai, they were considered equals. I rolled my eyes at him when he said this, and after my bum was grabbed, I wanted to march back up to him and say “If women are treated with respect and considered equal in your country, sir, then why are your Emirati homeboys grabbing my bum after I initiate a conversation about ECONOMICS?”
Unfortunately – coincidentally – the currency trader was no where to be found after he insisted I ask the Emirates their opinion on our economic debate.
It was a lesson learned. an interesting night, and start to the new year!
