Nepal's New Kumari

Nepal's Maoists have selected a new living goddess (Kumari). She is a 6-year old girl who, according to tradition, the goddess Durga inhabits her body until puberty. In order to be selected, she had to meet several criteria - some of which inlcude:

• A neck like a conch shell
• A body like a banyan tree
• Eyelashes like a cow
• Thighs like a deer
• Chest like a lion
• Voice soft and clear as a duck's

The most recent Kumari was dishonored by visiting the US. This visit was deemed to have "tainted her purity". Luckily, she was able to undergo a cleansing ceremony to restore her goddess state. But now that she's 11, Durga has vacated her body. To symobolize her return to mere human status, she was married in a ritual to a piece of fruit.

Is Tomorrow A Holiday?

Well, we'll have to wait until the "Moon Sighting Committee" in Saudi Arabia looks at the shape of the crescent moon. Don't ask me how they can tell the difference, but if it is a new crescent versus the last day of the waning crescent - then Ramadan is over and tomorrow is a holiday.

.

According to this website http://moonsighting.com/ they are already saying that today it is a New Moon (see left). I've been told that I should check the Gulf News website this evening to be sure. So, certainly by this evening we'll know if tomorrow is a holiday. But signs are showing positively that starting tomorrow, we'll have 2 days off for Eid al Fitr (or "The Festival to Break the Fast"). I've already decided that if we have Tuesday and Wednesday off, then I'll take off on Thursday to make it a 5-day weekend.

.

.

We know from last year, that if tomorrow is Eid al Fitr we will have no doubt by the praying that is broadcast from the mosques. For over an hour, the muezzin will send out their prayers of thanksgiving and jubilation. They will start at sunrise - which is somewhere around 5am these days. And then the days of feasting, family gatherings, giving presents and giving thanks will begin for Muslim families who will celebrate the blessings they have been given and give thanks that they had the strength to fast for the month of Ramadan.

.

Happy Eid

What the F**K

Last night, a work collegue was killed as he walked from our office to his hotel. He was struck by falling debris from a construction site. A crane boom swung out over the public sidewalk and dropped a load of wooden beams from a height of nearly 50 stories. He was killed instantly.

It's hard to get over the shock. He took the same route that I take nearly every day to go and get my lunch. He was visiting here from one of our regional offices for some meetings. I just saw him - he swung through the corridor to say goodnight to a few people before heading out. Just 1 minute -no- 10 seconds slower or faster and he would have been fine. All those philosophical thoughts keep swimming through my head: When it's time - it's time; You never know; A reminder about what's really important.

His poor wife, his poor family. Can you imagine the total shock and horror she was feeling as she flew here from Bahrain last night. A worst nightmare come true.

Mostly I'm angry, now that I've had a few hours to process the news. Sometimes Dubai is such a 3rd World Country. Especially when it comes to valuing human life and dignity. Believe me - there is none. Because Shuaib's death is just one of hundreds (maybe thousands) that happens on construction sites every year here. Can you imagine having 2 pedestrians (there was also someone else - a stranger - walking next to him) killed by falling debris from a construction site and not having that be significant news? But here - there's nothing. Can you imagine a crane swinging its boom carrying a heavy load across a public sidewalk in the US? I can tell you that I have walked under cranes myself as they've swung over my path - and shuddered doing it. Can you imagine that if someone were killed on a construction site after displaying that much disregard for safety - that within a couple of hours they'd be back at work? Heaven forbid something stop the building of their precious towers.

See - to implement safety standards here - they'd have to care. They'd have to care that people are killed, maimed, and injured by the thousands on the construction sites in this city. They'd have to care that someone's family will be devastated by this loss. They'd have to care about the value of a person life and that it's worth protecting. They'd have to care - and they don't.

His wife will benefit from the fact that this tragedy happened while he was on company business. Because now Johnson Controls legal department will get involved and hopefully get a good settlement from the construction company for her. Without good representation - the construction company would probably be able to pay her off with blood money for Dhs 200,000 (just over $50,000). Still, even with good representation, she won't get much - certainly not enough to raise her kids without their father.

Shuaib Baig - he was a good man.

Mamacita said...
I'm sorry you had to witness it.

Just wanted to clarify that I did not witness his death. I've just related the incident as we have come to understand the facts of what happened. If I had witnessed this - I'm sure there is no way I'd have the sanity to sit here typing right now.

Edited to add:
Please continue to keep Shuaib's family in your thoughts and/or prayers. His family is horribly distraught and suffering at this time.

My Fingers Are Numb

And my toes are aching like they have the beginning of frost bite.

The A/C is working in my new office. Just 2 days ago it wasn't. Typical Dubai - A/C gone MAD.

I moved into the office a little over a week ago and lived for over a week without A/C. My office is on the sunny side of the building in the mornings. So, each day the heat would gradually build up to a low roast. It was uncomfortable. I felt like a Baptist church-goer as a I sat in my office fanning myself with paper fans. I was glad to hear others complain it was hot, too - otherwise I might have thought I was going through THE CHANGE.

Now, I'm afraid to mention anything. It's better this way. I have a wrap - although it clashes horribly with the shirt I'm wearing today. Maybe I'll wait a day or two and then see if there's some adjustment that can be made that doesn't send me back to square one.

If I really need some relief, I can step outside where temps are in the mid-90s these days. I was thrilled to walk a block down the street to pick up my lunch this afternoon.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Last night, I took my team out for Iftar - the dinner to celebrate the breaking of the fast during Ramadan. We went to a local hotel where they served an impressive buffet. Our table was jammed into the dining area along with a mass of people - many of them also companies and teams out to celebrate together. The buffet included over 50 dishes to choose from (nearly 20 on the dessert table alone).

It used to be that Iftar was a quiet family dinner. Families would meet to break the fast at sunset. Traditionally, people will break the fast with dates and juice. This would be followed by a family dinner.

But all over the Muslim world, Iftar is becoming a grand affair. Here in Dubai, we have over 30 sumptuous buffets to choose from - most hosted in the finest hotels in the city. The hotels are decorated with the decor of traditional Arabia - bedouin tents, sitting areas with low cushions and pillows, sisha smoking areas, and oud players. Some even go so far as to build tents in the hotel grounds. In Saudi Arabia, our team had a company Iftar (similar to having the Company "Winter Holiday" Party back home). A few days after the company Iftar, our Saudi team hosted a Customer Iftar - with over 700 customers and spouses attending the feast.

Traditional Iftar fare includes:

Dates - and other fruits
Juices - and for some reason Vimto (which is locally popular in the UAE, but I'm not sure about other countries)
Laban - which is kind of like runny yogurt. Many will put dates or fruit or rose water syrup into their laban
Roasted Lamb - I think the traditional preparation has them wrapping up the lamb and then burying it into the sand with coals - similar to the preparation of a pig at a Hawaiian luau.
Rice - typically spiced with cinnamon and cardomom.
Arabic Desserts - loaded with honey, phyllo pastry, butter and nuts. Some will substitute rose water syrup for the honey. But they are just one biteful after another of sweet, buttery, nutty, gooey loveliness.

Today's Iftar also has:
Schwarma (aka Gyro)
Indian Curry
Hummus, Tabouleh, and Moutabel
Numerous Salad
Mixed Grilled Meats (including Lamb, Chicken and Kofta - which is kind of like lamb sausage)
Additional Desserts - chocolate cakes, flans and tortes.

Barack Obama is Not a Muslim

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Have any of you out there received the emails that are flying around stating that Obama is a Muslim? What a weird place America is in these days - when you can actually "accuse" someone of being a certain religion. And that so many Americans will see that as equivalent to being a terrorist or fanatist - but most certainly strange. Do you know that there is actually MORE religious tolerance here in Dubai than there is back home? Yes, there is more religious tolerance than in the US - where we are supposedly founded upon the ideas of religious freedoms.

I read that one of the emails quotes Obama as stating that the Muslim call to prayer (which he heard at least 5 times daily when living in Indonesia) is one of the most beautiful things he's ever heard - and of course insinuating that this makes him a Muslim. And I can vouch for you that it is. It is beautiful. And westerners here will tell you that they love the call. It is a sound which premeates the environment here and is so soothing. But just because someone likes it doesn't mean they're secretly Muslim (not that there's anything wrong with that).

I'm glad we've had our chance to live here so that I can understand how normal it is to be Muslim. How skewed my perceptions were back home. How we're indoctinated to think Muslim's are weird, semi-civilized people teetering on the brink of radicalism. How sad, how sad, how sad. I'm so glad to be living in a part of the world where I've been able to see things differently. From a distance, it's so disappointing to see these lies which capitalize on our fears and rely upon our ignorance. Really, how sad.

So, please, you 20 or so people out there who actually read this. Please tell at least 20 people that you know that Obama is not a Muslim. Never mind how you're going to vote. This is a call for the sanity of reason and tolerance in our voting public. Please tell people to vote how they want - but don't make a decision based on these crazy lies intended to spread an irrational fear and continue the ignorance that we have toward Muslims.

Boy It's Humid

The ambiance today: beige haze with a touch of yellow glow. Haze hung so thick in the air, it was difficult to distinguish the outlines of the buildings. To add to our pleasure, 80% humidity. At least the temps are below 40 (for now). This morning, the humidity had completely fogged up my car. So, as I drove out of the neighborhood, streaks of water ran across the windows and collected dust as they went along. So, now I have a dust streaked car.

One of my favorite things about traveling to Europe last week was some blue sky. Hard to believe how much the blue sky will lift your spirits. We rarely have blue sky here. Always a bit hazy. Someone mentioned to me that the further north you are, the more brilliant the blue in the sky. So, perhaps what we have here is a combination of living so far south plus the haze that makes the sky seem a pale beigey blue.

I will say that the temps are showing great signs of tapering off. We had some friends over for dinner on Friday and we ate dinner outside on the patio. It was a beautiful night to hop into the pool for a quick dip to cool off. It was still warm (temps in the 90s), but the breeze was helping to keep us all cooled off. Even though the daytime temps are still peaking over 100, it is cool enough in the evening to feel comfortable outside. It feels good to have the peak of summer behind us and looking forward to our lovely warm winter. It will be hard to get used to snow boots again.

Friends v. Family

Lyra's school is starting a curriculum call Friends and Family. It's already starting some thoughts rolling in her mind.

Lyra: Mama, is Uncle Gil in our family?
Me: Yes, he is in our family.
L: Oh, I thought he was a friend.
M: No, he is Baba's brother. So, he is in our family.
L: Like Uncle Paul?
M: Yes, like Uncle Paul and Uncle Steve. They are all Baba's brothers. Baba had another brother, but he died before you met him. He would have been your Uncle Tad or Uncle Ted.
L: How did he die?
M: Well, he was very sick.
L: [who has a cold and we recently discussed fevers and their role in killing germs in the body] So, did he have the germs and did the fever not get them? Did the germs keep coming and coming and he couldn't get better so his body died and his bones became dust?
M: [OK, Russell's been having a few conversations with her I can see] Yes, but he didn't have a cold like you do. He was sick for a very long time and the germs were coming into his body for a long long time.
L: Uncle Ted, I think I hear'd of Uncle Ted. How long was he sick?
M: Well, a very long time. Many years.
L: And Uncle Greg?
M: Well, Uncle Greg is married to Mimi and Mimi is Baba's sister. When you get married to someone, then you become a part of their family.
L: But Raven and Clara and Eleanor are friends, right?
M: Yes, they are friends. But some of our friends are just as important to us as family.
L: So, if you get married and go to live at someone's house, then you are family.
M: [hmm, is it too early to explain the inconsistencies for same-sex couples?] - Yes. We're very lucky we have such a great family.

I'm sure there are more questions to come.

Ramadan Hours

During Ramadan, many business will run reduced hours. Or - in the case of retail will switch their hours to run later into the night.

Our local mall has done this. Many shops open around 2 or 3pm and are open until 2am during Ramadan. This is to accommodate the fact that those who are fasting will spend more hours sleeping during the day (when they cannot eat) and will be up during the night. The malls and restaurants are buzzing with people until early morning. Really, these people can't have jobs. Otherwise, how can they be awake at 2am and then up again at 4am for breakfast and then off to work at 9.

I keep forgetting about Ramadan hours. I have tried on 3 separate occassions to drop off my dry cleaning. Each time the place is closed. What is particularly frustrating is that remembering to drop of my dry cleaning is a minor victory for me. I can drive around with dry cleaning in the car for days, weeks, even months. So, to remember for 3 different times in a 2 week period - I'm feeling pretty good about the ol' brain cells. Finally, I gave up and went to a different dry cleaners who seems to be running more normal business hours.

Now, I'll need to hope for the small victory of remembering to PICK UP the dry cleaning. Actually, I gave the ticket to Russell hoping that HE will remember to pick it up. (Tomorrow, please, Russell - it will be ready tomorrow).

Maestro

Only in England could they have a reality program that is a competition to select the best amateur orchestra conductor.

The program is run along similar lines to American Idol. Contestants seem to be B-List celebrities. They each pick their own piece of classical music. For a week, they practice with the studio orchestra and then on the TV program, they perform for the television audience. Then judges decide who should be eliminated.

By coincidence I've tuned in to the final program. The two contestants are both conducting Beethoven's 5th Symphony as the finale performance.

Would this program have any chance of attracting even 1 viewer in the US? Not unless they were conducting in the nude.

The BBC - gotta love it!

Photo Update

I've been remiss in loading some photos lately. Here are a few from our summer!

First Day of School
Her new teacher, Ms Nasser, is from Belgium but speaks with an Americanized accent. She says that she went to international schools growing up.

Ballet Class
Lyra now tells me that she doesn't like ballet. I don't know why - I think because she can't be in the same class as her friend Inaya. Anyway, she's registered for at least one more semester. Not surprisingly, she's the only one in a black leotard.

The Collective (GraceandJackandRose)

Every day Lyra asks if she can call for the neighbors, GraceandJackandRose.

Lyra loves Thomas
We had a grand time with our friends Anne and Andrew while staying in Wimbledon. Lyra loves staying with the boys, but was especially smitten with Thomas - he IS the cheeky one.

Can you tell we're sisters?

First lost tooth.

Sippy Cup Contraceptive

The other day at dinner Lyra stated, "I'm going to always use a sippy cup because I don't want to have a baby in my tummy and move out."

Russell and I looked at each other. I believe I muttered something about it being good that she doesn't have a baby until she's ready. Then Russell told her that she would WANT to move out when she was older - but that we'd be old enough by then to move in with her so she could take care of us.

This all stems from seeing Mamma Mia the other day. At the end of the movie, the daughter is sailing off with her boyfriend and Lyra starts crying. "Is she leaving her Mamma? Why? That's so sad." She's definitely in a mode where she loves us and being with us - and the thought of actually WANTING to one day leave is incomprehensible. I think the sippy cup represents staying a child not so much a means of contraception. Although if it was, I'm sure I could make a mint telling parents to keep their kids on the sippy through to their 20's (30's even).