Everyday Mundane Dubai

For expats, there are 2 Dubais (well probably more, but I'll talk about two); one for the westerners and one for the non-westerners.

Westerners shop at shopping malls, non-westerners shop in little locally owned shops up and down the street.
Westerners go to grocery stores where they can get stuff from home (like US$6 Special K), non-westerners go to grocery stores where they find locally made and grown items (like $0.75/Kilo cucumbers and $1 Labnah - when you come to visit you can try labnah).
Westerners go to places that have a constant cleaning crew coming through to dust, mop and polish, non-westerners will wander through an area with food on the street and grime from 25 years without rain.
Westerners go to a plush restaurant at a hotel (where they can get booze) and are served in intimately lit surroundings, non-westerners eat at a place with flourescent lighting and stools pulled up to a formica table.
Westerners buy clothes made in China (but sold through fancy retailers), non-westerners buy clothes made in India (and sold from a pile on a table).
Westerners pull into a parking lot and park between two lines clearly delineating a space, non-westerners pull onto the curb/kerb, cross the sidewalk, and park in a dusty space left by the construction crews.
Westerners walk 0.5 Km down the street to the pedestrian cross-walk, non-westerners dart across the middle of 12 lanes of traffic.
Westerners buy their spices in small bottles sold on the shelf, non-westerners buy their spices from the souk sold out of a burlap bag.
Westerners spray on designer perfumes purchased at the duty free in the airport, non-westerners have their own private scent mixed at the perfume souk and poured into jeweled perfume oil bottles.
Westerners live in huge homes with spare bedrooms for guests and private quarters for the maid (that'd be us), non-westerners live in 2-bedroom apartments and have the maid sleep in the living room (however, they still have a maid).
Westerners have no idea how to bargain (because in the end they probably need the money more than I do) and anyway the shopkeeper will quote a price 3 times what he really wants, non-westerners know how to say to the guy, "You must be joking" in Hindi and anyway the shopkeeper starts at 25% more than what he wants.
Westerners call Dubai Municipality and the guy shows up at 7:30am the next day, non-westerners call Dubai Municipality and the guy shows up 13 months later (true).
Westerners know where to go to get a great manicure, non-westerners know where to go to get a great curry.
Westerners take a taxi, non-westerners take the bus.
Westerners spend too much money, non-westerners send money home.
Westerners complain about the heat, non-westerners complain about the heat, too.

Kathie said... So where do you fit in, what about Russ, are you the same?
I guess we're trying to learn how to discover more about being here that is more like the non-westerners. We appreciate the different things and are happy to step outside our comfort zone. Of course, Russell is much more happy to step further out of the comfort zone than I am - isn't he always?