Sandier Pastures

The Island Girl has awarded me with a beautiful tag that says I’m a blogger and I rock.  Thanks for including me!    

Island Life - I, too, couldn’t remember where I blog-hopped to get to Kailani’s site but have been an avid reader since day one.   

Here’s passing the honor (in no particular order):

• In Spring it is the Dawn - A faithful book reader from Japan who always comes up with interesting books and lovely pictures of my ‘foster’ country. I admit I get homesickness attacks when I read the posts on this blog but I am always looking forward to it as well. I have always been a sucker for punishment.
• AbbyNormal - I bumped into Abby when I was still blogging in Blogdrive. Witty writing style she has that I love.
• HeartSongs - A family tale by the queen of Google herself, Karin. I love her regular roundup of informative, entertaining links as well as her endearing parenting stories. Lately, I discovered why her blog name has the word “heart” in it.
• Chitchat with Cheryl - Cheryl and her family moved to NZ almost the same time as my troop and I moved to Dubai. We are sharing stories of our new found country, adventures, culture shocks and most of all, missing home stories. She even takes the time to write me long emails in response of my “Dear Abby” episodes.
• Verb - ZAM is not only an online friend. We have known each other for more than 10 years and the flame of friendship is still burning! She’s a career woman, a doting mom to her cute son she is gracefully raising (almost!) by herself as hubby works far.
• Bleeding Expresso - I am new to Sognatrice’s blog and I am loving it already. She makes me want to live in beautiful picturesque Italy!
• Just Sharing - Blog of Florence who is in Germany. I am looking forward to her adventures in one of the places I love and dream of. Ah, to be a student in a foreign country! Nothing could beat that excitement I am very familiar of!
• Journey - Idel is fast falling in love with Japan and exploring the place corner to corner, eating every possible ramen variety she encounters along the way.
• Living my Life - Rose’s writings of her second shot of Japan living. I always check if there are updates to feed my Japan homesickness!
• Idle Moments - Another young expat on the loose in Japan, supplying me loads of sakura pictures and Osaka adventure stories.

This list might be updated once I get the time to read all the feeds in my reader!

I did not include blogs from rockin girl bloggers who got the badge already - Supermom, Write from Karen, Nocturnal Wench…

…and year 2007 is done. Time flies too fast.

It’s the end of June. Would you believe, I have accomplished more than 30 posts this month. Lots of time in my hands, my friends..chuckle, chuckle and more chuckle. Also, I have ‘expanded’ my chanels by signing up to contests and give-aways and to blog carnivals.

This month was a great month to explore lots of new bloggers and lots of goings on in the blogosphere.

The Carnival of Family Life is up at Everyday Disasters.

Can’t help it, got to let the world know (almost) everything about Dubai’s buses at the Carnival of Cities- here, there, everywhere up at ChristChurch. Check out what’s happening at the other cities.

My post is included in the ever first Carnival of Love, Dating & Glamor.

Blogging is getting better and better. Blogging wise, I love Dubai’s work schedule. I get write posts (lots of it) on Saturdays and Sundays.

I am happy.

I got this at Karin’s… and answered to satisfy my boredom at the office one Sunday. Here’s spilling some facts about me.

Facts about G:

1. Were you named after anyone?
Maybe? but not after anyone as in a person although I would like to think they thought of Grace Kelly when I was born. Seriously, I was given my name because I am the first child and my parents believed I was a grace from above. Talk about pressure from the time of birth!! I hope I lived up to that thought.

2. When was the last time you cried?
Let me see…hmmm, I took a moment so that means I haven’t cried for more than 100 days!!

3. Do you like your handwriting?
In English or in Japanese? I like how it looks like in Japanese than in English.

4. What is your favorite lunch meat?
I am easy to please. Give me a good burger and I’m happy. Grilled well and good. NOT McDonalds. A good Kobe beef medium-rare steak is superb. Easy to please huh? lol

5. Do you have kids?
One kid…more to follow in case I get silly bored about this job and quit to be a birthing machine.

6. If you were another person, would you be friends with you?
Why not?!

7. Do you use sarcasm a lot?
Only when I’m PMS-sy.

8. Do you still have your tonsils?
Yes.

9. Would you bungee jump?
I’d do it with my daughter when she is old enough. But I am sure it’s easily said than done as I am afraid of heights.

10. What is your favorite cereal?
I don’t do cereals. I’m Asian, he he.

11. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
NO. It is a major pain to untie your shoes every time you take them off especially when you live in Japan.

12. Do you think you are strong?
Emotionally, yes. Physically, no. I may be big and a little over my ideal weight but I lack the strength.

13. What is your favorite ice cream?
Rocky Road and Double Dutch.

14. What is the first thing you notice about people?
Their wrists — if they are wearing a watch or not.

15. Red or pink?
Depending on my mood but I’d prefer a pink pajama over a red one.

16. What is the least favorite thing about yourself?
My time wasting energy spent trying to please everyone.

17. Who do you miss the most?
My daughter when we are apart even for just a couple of hours.

18. What color pants and shoes are you wearing?
Black slacks and low heel shoes.

19. What was the last thing you ate?
 A croissant for lunch and water. No appetite today.

20. What are you listening to right now?
Sounds of the keyboard, my own and the others around. Several mouse click sounds - which means that some people are not actually working: mouse clicks are usually associated to net surfing according to the Wikipedia (just kidding!!). The boss is not here and my gawd, it’s Sunday!

21. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
I’d be brown..or you suggest what.

22. Favorite smells?
The Body Shop’s White Musk scent, have you tried it? If not, I think you should!

23. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
My husband asking me if I had my lunch already and how was my croissant.

24. Favorite sport to watch?
Japanese SUMO. I miss it so badly. Pristine and I would cheer for our favorite wrestlers like crazy while in-laws look on blankly at us.

25. Hair color[s]?
dark brown-black

26. Eye color?
brown

27. Do you wear contacts?
Don’t want to even if I need to!

28. Favorite food?
M’s pasta and Jap dishes

29. Scary movies or happy endings?
Definitely happy endings. Why would I spend money just to scream exasperately?

30. Last movie you watched?
At the movies- can’t remember. Too long ago!!
At home - The Da Vinci Code with my mother

31. What color shirt are you wearing?
Light pink

32. Summer or winter?
Hands down it’s winter. I do not like to sweat - a great irony of life now that I am living in the Middle East!!

33. Hugs or kisses?
Both and lots of it.

34. Favorite dessert?
any fruit would do

35. What book are you reading now?
Rich Kid, Smart Kid.

36. What is on your mouse pad?
Is this still used now? I have an optical mouse, so don’t need one.

37. What did you watch on T.V. last night?
We have no TV in the house.

38. Favorite sound[s]?
The rain, my daughter’s laughter

39. Rolling Stones or Beatles?
Spice Girls Beatles.

40. What is the farthest you have been from home?
London, UK

41. Do you have a special talent?
Hmmm,…I can bake a cake without measuring anything!

42. Where were you born?
Philippines

This is just a Friday filler because I am not here at the office on Fridays to write any that comes to mind. But hey, if you want to join in, feel free and drop me a comment so I can go and check it out!

I have nothing against the other airlines, just want to plug this for free post this as nothing interesting is coming to my mind today. 

I don’t know if it applies for all but most of the Emirates flights I know adjusts their time of arrival to Dubai to arrive at dawn or at night, obviously to avoid the heat outside, especially in summer. A very clever scheme not to scare the tourists away.

Kid-friendly 

My daughter was treated marvellously by the staff while onboard, and was given a lovely backpack filled with goodies and one very nice book which she thoroughly enjoyed. Her meals were interesting and, and she was always served first, again thoughtful and appreciated.

The Entertainment 

The inflight entertainment console is conveniently located right in front of you and the options are endless!

You could start any of the programs or films at ANY point you wanted so you dont have to wait for them to start over. It also had a juke box in it with every possible popular, jazz, classical albums from almost any artist you could think of. It also had EVERY number one J-pop single which kept me amused and nostalgic for hours. I couldn’t keep my earphones off my ear even when I was half-sleeping.

There are enough program choices to satisfy all ages, tastes and nationalities. On our flight to Dubai there was the opportunity to watch 2 complete movies out of an impressive selection of Hollywood, Bollywood, Arabic, Filipino and Chinese ones. Sub-titles were also there for you to select in a range of languages. Didn’t fancy a film? Many different TV programmes from comedy to sport to general interest were on-line. Audio? About 20 channels of music catering for all tastes. And the kids? Sixteen games were there to keep them amused. Some computer type - remember Tetris? Also a few for the older generation as well as one which was interactive with any other passengers playing!

When it comes to entertainment in the sky, Emirates is A-class.

MISC

Plenty of leg room even in the economy section. The seats are big and comfortable. Our 12-hour long haul flight from Nagoya was painless.

Food was not as impressive as that of Lufthansa German Airlines but it was not yuck as well. Except for champagne, all drinks thinkable are free, anytime you want it, how you want it.

All in all, it wins hands down - other issues notwithstanding. Don’t just take my word, experience Emirates yourself!

Note: This was not a paid post, although you thought and I wish it was!=)

Someone is in my house right now to entertain my mom. Now my mother can have a ‘proper’ conversation using her own language and without cutesy baby talks.

My aunt (my mom’s younger sister)  just arrived from the Philippines this morning after an uneventful flight. The plane departed Manila at the exact time and arrived in Dubai at 4:40 a.m. sharp, just like in the itinerary! Very surprising for a plane to arrive on time especially if the country of origin is the Philippines…

Aunt is in Dubai in the hope of finding a nanny job. She comes with my high recommendation as she loves kids and has lots of experience in childcare. We will miss her when she goes to live with her employer soon as Pristine is starting to really like her just a few minutes after they met.

So there are 5 people in my house - male population is down to 20%. We are getting merrier.

If you have not known by now, Dubai is tax-free and by tax-free I mean that we get our salary without any deductions. Gross = Net. Pretty cool, considering this is a hot country…stupid line I know.

But alas all that glitters is not gold. The forefront of having tax-free lifestyle is too good to be true. Residents are bombarded with problems of rising house rents, deteriorating expat package, school fee hike every year, rising cost of living, among other headaches. Some are already packing their bags, ready to head home. Now, the government is adding salt to the already open wounds of those who chose to stay behind.

The road toll, known as Salik, has been introduced by the Road and Traffic Authority (RTA) in two points, one on Al Garhoud Bridge and the other is on Sheikh Zayed Road near Mall of the Emirates. The authority says it is aimed to control the flow of traffic and ease congestion. The project is also expected to raise 600 million dirhams (USD164 million) annually.

Control the flow of Dubai traffic? Yeah right, convince me. The second reason seems to be like it.

Note: This is how the new road toll works.

I’ve scoured the net for giveaways and contests and I will not stop until I win!! Thanks Kailani for some tips.

Win a $100 Amazon Gift Certificate!

Author Rosina Lippi has a new book and launching a contest on her site. Instructions are simple, just answering the meme she posted on her blog will act as your entry.

Here’s the meme: Five Reasons the [best bloggers, writers] come from [a geographical space, real or imaginary]

Five Reasons the best writers come from Dubai:

1. The eternal traffic in the city that is changing every minute, will make writers spend looonger times doing short trips by bus. What better way to kill time than write? Chances are, interesting images are seen along the way, including labourers working under the hot sun who’ll shot gazes at you with eyes  like that of the Afghan girl in National Geographic cover.

2. More than 80% of Dubai population are foreigners from more than 200 countries. Writers/bloggers can talk about all the skin and hair color they want and fight on what is the best food in town.

3. The amount of inspiration available is endless even for the drained and hopeless. When writers are tired of looking at vast desert painted red by the setting sun, they could always go to the pristine beaches.

4. Writers are OFF on Fridays so they can cook something up while the whole world toils.

5. Writers work on Sundays in this globally-unsychronized corner of the earth so while the rest of the world go to church and spend time with their families, they are in their work cubicles, particularly doing nothing but write the best stories! =)

Done! Whew, this meme was difficult and this must be the first post I’ve squeezed my brains into.  

Tied to the Tracks by Rosina Lippi. July 3, 2007. ISBN: 0425215326

“[This] is a hilarious, smart, sexy novel with a heart of gold.” — Susan Wiggs

“[Lippi] turns her buoyant creative talents to the romantic comedy genre with an effervescent tale of a trio of offbeat Yankee filmmakers plunked down deep in the heart of Dixie.” — Booklist

Read an excerpt. (Adobe Reader required)| Watch the book trailer

You can find Tied to the Tracks at Amazon , Barnes & Nobel, Borders, Powells, or at your local independent bookseller.

This meme has been entered in the Tied to the Tracks contest, originating on Rosina Lippi’s Storytelling2 weblog. If you’d like to enter the BUCKS & BOOKS meme contest, get the rules here.

Oh, got to tell ya, The Carnival of Family Life is up at Everyday Disasters and one of my older post was included! The entire post is long so you’ve got to hit the Ctrl-F key and enter Sandier Pastures to see where I was placed.

Don’t scream now but I have not had alcohol for more than six months already. For non-drinkers, I’d get a duh! in the face but for my friends and former office colleagues in Japan, I’ll get a high-pitched unbelievable!

Wait! I was not heading to rehab prior to our move to Dubai. Got to get that straight and clear, ahem.

Drinking in Japan does not carry the stigma with which it is saddled in other countries like America. In fact, it is viewed as a trust-building endeavor that helps cement relationships. The Japanese even has a name for this form of communication through drinking: nominike-shon (????????). It implies an opportunity to speak candidly and to let off steam, and even provides an acceptable excuse for what otherwise might be deemed inappropriate behavior. Let’s put it this way, you can smother your boss saying his management sucks and get away with it on Monday, he could not blame you…you were under the influence.

Back to my real point. Drinking in the UAE which is a muslim country is not allowed. Technically. When drinking a pint of beer could land you in prison in some parts of the Middle East, alcohol is tolerated in Dubai, with non-Muslims allowed to imbibe alcohol in city’s bars, restaurants, clubs and hotels.

Beer and other spirits are not available in supermarkets but they can be bought for personal consumption only in special stores like A&E and MMI and would require a liquor license. No liquor license, no booze.

Although we are of legal age no matter how young we look hee hee, M and I don’t have liquor license. Six months of not having a single drop of alcohol and we are perfectly ok. Did we miss alcohol at all? Hard question…but my answer would be NO.

Now, I can’t even think of any relevance why it has to be served on parties and make a scene like this. Can you?

Roundabouts - do you just hate them or I mean HATE them?

From where I got my driving license and practiced my driving, there are NO roundabouts. We had proper traffic signal lights, that’s it. No complications, few accidents. When we went to the UK last year, I thought that roundabouts was just really weird. Pardon me English lads and gals, it’s just that I am not used to it. The British call it ‘natural’ traffic light. No need to wait if there’s no car on the road, you can just proceed. I have some other opinion about it.

Simply stated, a roundabout is a transportation management tool that moves traffic through an intersection without the aid of traffic signals.Tips on how to drive on a roundabout can be found here which I read 100x a day.

I know people who are used to driving in places with roundabouts will laugh at me and how I make a big deal out of this trivial driving matter. But trivial it is not!! and I have to get myself used to it here in Dubai. Last Friday, I drove just around the neighborhood and approaching the roundabout is like going inside a horror house! The next thing I knew, I was not breathing properly.

Oh, and I have to add, that we drive on the RIGHT here (like in the UK) and all my life I used to drive on the LEFT. Wish me lots of luck!!

We might have our differences but I must admit, I will not be able to work without her. I can’t imagine any other person taking care of my daughter genuinely like she does so we were off to the Immigration Department this morning to change her visa, making her stay her as long as we’re here. 

According to the rules:

To obtain a residence visa for the parents, one has to show proof to the Naturalisation and Residency Department that there is a humanitarian issue that requires to sponsor them and that the son or daughter are their lone supporters.

 Would wanting your own mother to take care of her granddaughter qualify as a humanitarian issue? No, according to the smug Immigration lady.

Then she seemed to want my father dead.

According to new regulations, you cannot sponsor only one of your parents and have to sponsor your father and the mother together unless one of your parents has passed away. 

The lady just kept on telling me the words “Not Allowed” every time. How can I sponsor both my parents if my father is still working back home? I just need my mom here, now. My father could follow a couple of years from now. Not allowed!