Somewhere Over the Rainbow...
they speak Turkish!
For at least 12 of the last 14 years, it has been our intention to spend most of the time we have in North Cyprus. We are now 2weeks away from that reality, exactly; but getting there has been a novel's worth of stress and tension, I can tell you!
The truth is that living and working abroad is a double edged sword. The life of an expat in the UAE is one of privilege; even as my husband and I have lived it. Many of our colleagues and acquaintances from the West, spend most weekends away from their place of work. They frequent luxury hotels and enjoy the nightlife of the big cities. They may still be within the confines of the Emirates or they may have gone further astray. However, wherever they wonder, there is no getting away from the luxury demanded and received throughout the hospitality industry. With beautiful and beguiling places and sights to see, and amazing experiences to be had, we Western expats living in the UAE have certainly been spoilt for choice when it comes to down time!
Tom and I have much preferred to live the quiet life through the weekends and holidays. I actually hate the Malls which are the frequent daily respite of those who live in or vacation in the big cities. Yet, Abu Dhabi and Dubai could make a shopper of anyone, even a shoppa-phobe like myself: having been known for the mantra: 'I'd rather clean my cooker than shop,' still on a recent visit to Al Ain, I found myself examining a set of ceramic pans that looked and felt inviting and I also found myself perusing the jewellery shops. All this from a woman who had, at the time, 3 fully kitted out kitchens, one in the UK, one in Cyprus and the other in Al Mirfa! Furthermore, I have never been a great one for jewellery, preferring to wear ear studs on special occasions; my wedding ring, because not to means: '... you are not married anymore, Mum'; and finally a very petite, very plain but much liked watch!
We have been in the habit of spending our weekends by the local pool, or in the sea and rounding off the visit with a self prepared picnic. Even this, though, is luxury when you are not used to the kind of weather to facilitate the habit. I do love the outdoor life that is on offer here, while the occasional stay-cation in one of the many sumptuous hotels in one Emirate or another definitely defines privilege in my lexicon.
While I have been here, six very happy and fleeting years, the way I have been pampered by service staff has been greatly appreciated. The Filipino workers here, really know how to make a client feel special. Throughout the six years, I have had a British trained Filipina hairdresser. A visit to see Alexa always made me feel special and well presented. While at the salon, I was the beautician, who would keep the brows and nails looking tiptop! I should give a shout, too, to the lady who shampooed me. She developed the habit of giving me a lovely head massage. She had magic hands, making that, for me, the best part of the visit.
These things taken altogether have meant that my life over the last six years has been a darn sight more than pleasant; it's been idyllic.
So what then has been the flip-side?
Sometimes, often actually, it was the way that people have been treated on the basis of their nationality. Often, depressingly frequently really, it was the whimsical decisions and changes that have made doing my job almost impossible. It has been the need to work around minor bureaucrats who have done their best to prevent the new ideas and methods that the Western Expats had been brought over to action.
So it is with some relief and excitement I will finally be able to give up teaching and go off over the rainbow to sample that quiet life of contentment in Cyprus.
they speak Turkish!
For at least 12 of the last 14 years, it has been our intention to spend most of the time we have in North Cyprus. We are now 2weeks away from that reality, exactly; but getting there has been a novel's worth of stress and tension, I can tell you!
The truth is that living and working abroad is a double edged sword. The life of an expat in the UAE is one of privilege; even as my husband and I have lived it. Many of our colleagues and acquaintances from the West, spend most weekends away from their place of work. They frequent luxury hotels and enjoy the nightlife of the big cities. They may still be within the confines of the Emirates or they may have gone further astray. However, wherever they wonder, there is no getting away from the luxury demanded and received throughout the hospitality industry. With beautiful and beguiling places and sights to see, and amazing experiences to be had, we Western expats living in the UAE have certainly been spoilt for choice when it comes to down time!
Tom and I have much preferred to live the quiet life through the weekends and holidays. I actually hate the Malls which are the frequent daily respite of those who live in or vacation in the big cities. Yet, Abu Dhabi and Dubai could make a shopper of anyone, even a shoppa-phobe like myself: having been known for the mantra: 'I'd rather clean my cooker than shop,' still on a recent visit to Al Ain, I found myself examining a set of ceramic pans that looked and felt inviting and I also found myself perusing the jewellery shops. All this from a woman who had, at the time, 3 fully kitted out kitchens, one in the UK, one in Cyprus and the other in Al Mirfa! Furthermore, I have never been a great one for jewellery, preferring to wear ear studs on special occasions; my wedding ring, because not to means: '... you are not married anymore, Mum'; and finally a very petite, very plain but much liked watch!
We have been in the habit of spending our weekends by the local pool, or in the sea and rounding off the visit with a self prepared picnic. Even this, though, is luxury when you are not used to the kind of weather to facilitate the habit. I do love the outdoor life that is on offer here, while the occasional stay-cation in one of the many sumptuous hotels in one Emirate or another definitely defines privilege in my lexicon.
While I have been here, six very happy and fleeting years, the way I have been pampered by service staff has been greatly appreciated. The Filipino workers here, really know how to make a client feel special. Throughout the six years, I have had a British trained Filipina hairdresser. A visit to see Alexa always made me feel special and well presented. While at the salon, I was the beautician, who would keep the brows and nails looking tiptop! I should give a shout, too, to the lady who shampooed me. She developed the habit of giving me a lovely head massage. She had magic hands, making that, for me, the best part of the visit.
These things taken altogether have meant that my life over the last six years has been a darn sight more than pleasant; it's been idyllic.
So what then has been the flip-side?
Sometimes, often actually, it was the way that people have been treated on the basis of their nationality. Often, depressingly frequently really, it was the whimsical decisions and changes that have made doing my job almost impossible. It has been the need to work around minor bureaucrats who have done their best to prevent the new ideas and methods that the Western Expats had been brought over to action.
So it is with some relief and excitement I will finally be able to give up teaching and go off over the rainbow to sample that quiet life of contentment in Cyprus.
