Just me in Abu Dhabi

John went to Boston on Tuesday morning, for a meeting at MIT, leaving me to experience Abu Dhabi on my own for a few days. It was only one meeting but Boston is a long way from here and you have to go via New York or London so it takes the best part of 24 hours each way - what a journey!
I got very used to Manchester on my own when John first came out here but I was a bit nervous about how it would feel in a new country and without a job to go to every day. Even before John went, his first two days this week, were long and hectic, since he'd been away and was off again so I didn't see much of him. It's been a busy week so I certainly haven't been sitting around staring at the walls though I do talk to myself and to the inanimate objects around me!
On Tuesday I went to Dubai to meet up with Phil from PA Consulting who was taking me to meet the Dubai government Human Knowledge and People Development Agency - similar to Ofsted in the UK in that they inspect schools, though they seem to have a wider influence in terms of looking after the quality and general inspection of all education provision. I went to talk about Investors in People and how that works in the UK. We had a really good meeting but I still have to learn what constitutes genuine interest, which may result in action, or what is just politeness - I wonder if I'll ever really know since, on the whole, the Emiratis are always charming and polite. In the evening I went to the Abu Dhabi networking group and met yet more interesting and friendly people. It did feel strange going into a pub on my own and talking to a mixed group of strangers but I met some of the ladies I'd met at Monday's event as well as some new people. The speaker was an Emirati journalist who runs the 'Ask Ali' column in The National - a kind of Muslim agony uncle. I've always enjoyed his column and he was a terrific speaker. He appears to specialise in providing cultural awareness for expats so he had lots of helpful advice and funny stories. He has experience on the other side, as he planned to open a Middle Eastern restaurant in New York on 13 September 2001 and really felt what it was like to be an outsider. I am keen to learn about the culture here and to ensure that I fit in as best as I can. I am always very careful about covering up when outside. I can't decide whether to be impressed or threatened by the unquestioning devotion to their faith which people show. Having been brought up in a culture where you are encouraged to question belief and custom, makes it hard sometimes not to ask more difficult questions, which might well be likely to cause offence without meaning to.
Wednesday was a very busy day. My taxi, which was due to take me a job interview, failed to turn up and, as it was 9am, I couldn't get one on the street. Vowing to get a car as soon as possible and to hate all Abu Dhabi taxi drivers forever, I managed to get hold of the original taxi driver who came eventually and I was only a few minutes late. This is a possible marketing role at another university, this time one which specialises in teacher education. Abu Dhabi are in the process of re-engineering their entire education system, from early years through to PhD and beyond, so being able to educate and train existing teachers as well as the next generation, is going to be crucial to the success of the system and the ability of the country to maintain a sustainable local workforce without having to rely permanently on expats. I love the challenge it could offer and it all seems so familiar, as I grew up in teacher training colleages with Dad being a sociologist who specialised in teacher education and Mum being a headteacher. It all sounded so very similar. I have to go back on Sunday to meet the senior management team as this meeting was with the Provost.
I rushed home and ran round the supermarket, returning home to bake one of my chocolate chip, fudge cake specials, which used to go down so well in Hale, for tonight, before heading off for the second job interview of the day. This was a second interview with the inscrutable company I'd been to before. It was a whole new experience, being put through the interview mill, by two Emirati men in full Arab dress. It seemed to go well though the questioning was very intense and they were not prepared to talk about the company. I know they are involved with defense related projects which made me uncomfortable, being a confirmed pacifist. However, by strange coincidence (and sadly I only found out after floundering through the interview trying to answer questions on possible strategies for a company I knew nothing about!), this is the company that Helen next door works for. She could have given me the inside track. She also put a whole different perspective on the defence activity, saying that Abu Dhabi needs to have weapons and military capability as a deterrent and to ensure that the kind of thing which happened in Kuwait in the early 90's would never happen here. Abu Dhabi needs this to keep the peace. Anyway, I don't think I did the best job that I could in terms of the interview but what an experience!
I then rushed home to cook a huge vat of chilli, make garlic bread, decorate my cake and generally get ready for my girls social night in.
It was lovely to welcome people into my home here and to provide them with food and drink. In the end I had 7 guests and I think everyone had an enjoyable evening. It was a mix of people - really everyone I've met and enjoyed their company since I've been here, so I didn't know how it would go but we seemed to have a good time. I am hoping to do it again soon so I'll know if no-one accepts the invitation next time! When we were in the UK we bought a new camera so that I could take pictures to show people and post on the blog. Last night would have been a great opportunity to take some pictures and I forgot all about it! Hopefully next time I'll have some pictures to show you.
This morning I went to The One and managed to buy some bedroom furniture which is coming on Wednesay so, after that, I will officially be able to receive visitors so please take this as an invitation. I went to Spinneys to buy food for the weekend and bumped into Carmel, who has just come out here to join her husband, who I met on both Monday and Tuesday. Now I really feel like I belong when I meet people I know in the supermarket!
John returns tonight and since he has been out of phone contact most of the time he should be glad that I have this blog. Instead of keeping him awake all night telling him about all the things I've been up to whilst he's been away and boring him with it, I've been able to tell the blog all about it! It's a bit like talking to the furniture but it doesn't feel quite so mad when you can put it on a website!