Report #60:I'm a Dubai resident

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Dearest JE!

I really hope you're doing well.

Here is my Dubai diary.

Much love and always thinking of you,

Cecilia

Report #60

Disclaimer: This report is rated R since there are some graphic, gynocologist text below.

I'm a bonafide Resident of Dubai

Wow... 14 months in Dubai and I'm got my residency visa! I went for the HIV test and the x-ray. My 3rd x-ray in 3 months. I should stay away from x-rays for a while...

About Dubai

Someone told me that people are always unhappy with the city they live in. The first 1-2 years one can appreciate and love the city, but then one start to see the negatives.

Miss the Epstein kitchen

Epstein-kids, I'm eating way too many Teddybears and Werthers at work. Difference is I have to pay for them myself. I work for the cheapass company.

What appals me is that the boss and his two sidekicks will sit and pig out without offering anyone else. There is water and sodas in the fridge, but only the boss is allowed to drink it.

Anemic

I've started eating iron supplements since I'm always anemic. The supplements help. The remaining tiredness I feel is probably due to lack of sleep, lack of oxygen in Dubai, and crappy work environment.

MAC Capital

1. Cheap as hell (wants me to pay for my local, landline calls. I thought it was freaken April fool's day when they told me)

2. High employee turnover - 10% left in 2 months

3. Crappy work environment (no natural sunlight, A/C blasting into my 1.5 sqm work space).

4. Boss who apparently screams at employees a lot. I have yet to experience this, but I don't think I will deal well with a chubby Australian from outback Bangkok raising his voice to me.

5. My desktop PC belongs in a museum.

6. Not paying for my mobile even though my personal mobile # is displayed on my business card.

7. Hierachy. Titles are extremely important. Do they know we're in the f****** desert and nobody outside of Dubai gives a shit about us???

The art of war

Since Mr. K is well-versed at this, he has withdrawn from the battlefield. He will only emerge when he thinks I've gotten over the idea of breaking off our friendship. As long as he stays away, I can't severe the friendship.

He's hoping I'll find someone else so we can remain friends.

Almost a normal person

After seeing the extreme of capitalism for 14 months, I've grown up in the right way. Dating a nice and caring man beats dating an asshole in a Range Rover.

Dubai World Cup

Thank goodness it's behind us. It was a pretty tough experience for all of us for various reasons: traffic, line to park, line to get on shuttle, 45 min meaningless shuttle ride that left you 200 meters from where you started, line to get in to horserace, line to get back on shuttle... you get the picture; severely hungover the next day (Russian), severely tired (me, since i'm iron-deficient); money lost on horses (my colleague).

...and we will gladly do it all over next year!

When will I learn that Italians suck?

Italian girl visiting wanted me to meet up with her. She never showed. I could've done better things with my evening than sitting alone at a high-class hooker bar, spending my lunch money on a diet coke.

Moral of story: Now, Americans are not looking so bad from where I'm sitting...

Old habits

You can take the girl out of the Epstein office, but you can't take the Epstein out of the girl. I had to glue four of my business cards with the company name highlighted to my phone so I'll remember to answer "MAC Capital" instead of "Epstein Interests."

My immediate boss is not happy that I can't remember where I work. Well, you get what you pay for.

Hair-cut

Was recommended Lebanese celebrity hairstylist. I look like a Lebanese now... (see pic)

Gave me a 5 min haircut and 30 min blowdry which involved curlers and left me looking like a freaken Lebanese!

Hairstylist quickly established that I've lost a lot of hair, but not to worry, it'll grow back again. Said everyone loses hair when they move to Dubai due to stress and living in the desert.

Gynocologist in the desert

Ladies, if you've never been to a Middle Eastern gyno, this is an experience you can't miss! You will be judged for being sexually active without being married.

I'm used to the highly clinical way in which the examination is conducted in the US: You get the gown, change in private, they talk you through the examination.

In this conservative country you'd think the procedure would be at least that, but no! No gown. You have to undress in front of the gynocologist and the assistant. No footrest. Very odd...

They did have some cool ultrasound screening, though.

Everyone, take care!
--
Cecilia Steen
Dubai Mobile +971 50 940 2062