This is for Steve and Chrissy in Douala, Cameroon from Douala, Tunisia.
Wrapping up the School Year
6 years ago
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...featuring Anastasia and Talula for perspective, joy and comic relief.
About Us
My Blog List
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Off we go!8 years ago
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World's Worst Blogger!12 years ago
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Where are our fans?
COUNTRIES WE'VE VISITED
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Belize [C]
- Cambodia
- Cameroon [C]
- Canada
- Cayman Islands [R]
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic [R]
- Egypt
- England
- Ethiopia
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Haiti [R]
- Honduras [C]
- Hungary [R]
- India
- Ireland [R]
- Italy [C]
- Jamaica [R]
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- Malaysia
- Mexico [R]
- Morocco
- Nepal
- New Zealand
- Nigeria [C]
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland [R]
- Portugal
- Russia [R]
- Singapore
- Slovak Republic [R]
- South Korea [R]
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Switzerland [C]
- Syria [R]
- Thailand
- The Netherlands
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates
- USA
- Vatican City [C]
- Vietnam
- Yemen
United Arab Emirates' Superlatives
- World's Fastest Roller Coaster: Ferrari Theme Park, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
- World's "Leaningest" building: Capital Gate, Abu Dhabi
- World's Best Airline: Etihad (Abu Dhabi)
- World's Largest Viewing Panel: Dubai Aquarium, Dubai Mall
- *World's Longest Ribbon Cutting: Abu Dhabi, at the opening of the redesigned Corniche
- *World's Longest Fully Automated Rail System: Dubai Metro
- *World's Richest Horse Race: the Dubai World Cup
- *World's Tallest Building: Burj Khalifa in Dubai
- *World's Tallest Hotel: Burj al-Arab (also one of two seven-star hotels; the other one is also in the UAE, here in Abu Dhabi)
- *World's Coolest Parents: Randy and Christine
- *World's Largest Mall: Dubai Mall
- *Fastest Growing Airline in the World: Emirates Air
- *Largest Artificial Islands in the World: Palm Islands
- *Most Expensive Airport Ever Built: Dubai's New Airport (under construction)
- *Gross Domestic Product: Fastest Growing in the World
- *World's Largest Chandelier: Sheikh Zayed Mosque
- *World's Largest Dome: Sheikh Zayed Mosque
- *World's Largest Carpet: Sheikh Zayed Mosque
UAE vs USA
- For some terrible reason, the KFC here does NOT have mashed potatoes. Christine and I are going to picket.
- Valet parking at the grocery store
- Washing machine and dryer--all in one machine! (Dries clothes somewhat well)
- Low-digit license plates mean very high-up people (most likely Royals)- avoid a wreck at all costs!
- the have/have-not divide is even wider
- Most everyday needs are just downstairs at the nearest tiny grocery (10 ft x 20 ft max), although there are gigantic Wal-Mart-like "hypermarkets" as well
- Water is bluish-green instead of brown (sorry Beaufort!)
- Shisha (hookah) isn't just for college dorm rooms
- 15:1 male:female ratio (on the streets at least)
- Eid is the equivalent to Christmas
- 3.67 dirhams to 1 US dollar
- Loudspeakers for call to prayer instead of church bells
- Sodas have pull tabs and are under extreme pressure
QUOTES WE HAVE TO SHARE
- Potential group name by some Emirati girls: "chocolate-covered diamonds"
- From a student: "Mr. Ball, behind that tough exterior, you have the heart of a bumblebee."
- At a faculty meeting about accreditation: "We want to be sure that continual improvement is continued" AND "Part one has three parts."
- Student destinations for Eid: Egypt, Greece, Oman, Italy, France, Lebanon, Jordan, Pakistan, etc
- "Write the homework down for me so my tutor can call you."
- Instead of TGIF, "TAIT"= Thank Allah It's Thursday
- "Students may use mobile phones outside only, such as when they're calling for their driver after school."
- "guest palace" instead of guest house
- so hot the dump spontaneously ignited
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