Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Lost in ME: #LeoMonkeyAmberAlert Updates

Anonymous sources have reported sightings of Leo and Monkey across the Middle East. Photos confirm they are unharmed, but their official status is still "missing." If you have any leads, please support the search on Instagram with #LeoMonkeyAmberAlert.

Tour & safari group leaders are currently being interrogated. 

Photo taken at Mall of Emirates, found in an unmarked envelope in our PO box.

Request reader assistance to determine specific Starbucks location

Caught crashing a pre-opening event of a little popcorn shop.
Video and photos taken at the event are under review for more leads.

Monday, November 25, 2013

AT in ADE: Music Brings the People Together

A few months ago, I wrote a jingle about Garrett. Tonight, I convinced a group of near-strangers in Abu Dhabi to sing it with me. My heart is full, and my work here is complete.


Friday, November 22, 2013

AT in ME: Makin' It Rain

Before I left Chicago, I bragged about the sunny warm weather I'd enjoy in the Middle East in November.

Since I arrived, it has almost exclusively rained. It seems that the rain follows me wherever I go. In Kuwait, there were flash floods, the mall drainage system became a geyser, office building ceilings caved in, and people went tubing in the streets. Neither the structure nor the people here are made for rain.

In Dubai, I actually watched a rain cloud follow me into the sunny side of the city. Just call me Storm.



Thursday, November 21, 2013

#LeoMonkeyAmberAlert

There is a new crisis in the Middle East. Two puppet friends, Leo and Monkey, are missing. The last time they were seen together was in Dubai at the Burj Khalifa. Simone reported them missing in Kuwait on Tuesday, and officials have been searching 24/7 since. At this time, there seem to be no signs of foul play, but there are no solid leads yet.


Last seen on Sunday, November 17
Background Information
Simone, Monkey, and Leo have been traveling companions since August 2012. The three friends met at Lollapalooza in Chicago and became best friends immediately. They supported each other through it all, despite their different backgrounds.

Simone grew up in Paris as part of a traveling circus. When she's not doing tricks for peanuts, she enjoys reading literature by her namesake, Simone de Beauvoir. Friends describe her as caring and sensitive, though she may appear thick skinned.

Leo was a Late Bloomer, but he had the last laugh when he published a very successful semi-autobiographical children's book about his trials as a cub. Though he's grown up to be a strapping young lion, he loves to spend time in his den with a cup of tea and his good friend Daniel.

Monkey eats bananas.

If you have any leads on the whereabouts of Leo and Monkey, please report to Instagram with #LeoMonkeyAmberAlert.

Reported on Friday, November 21 at 15:15.

Updated November 22 at 01:23:
Simone is staying optimistic with the support of her Trunk-to-Tail Prayer Circle. When asked to share her thoughts on friends Leo and Monkey, she responds with a simple "An elephant never forgets."

Support the Search: #LeoMonkeyAmberAlert

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

AT in KW: To the Beat of His Own Oil Drummer

When I returned from Kuwait to Dubai, my colleague asked me to sum up my Kuwaiti experience in one sentence.  I told him, "Kuwait runs on its own system."

Here's more than one sentence to sum up my one sentence.

Everything is western.
I ate at Potbelly and Dean & Deluca, and there were moments when T.G.I.Friday's seemed like the best choice of fine, casual dining. I think I saw Arabic bread once while in Kuwait.

It's also interesting that there's such a western influence that many locals sound American when they speak. My British colleague described it as a "fake American accent."  I was so relieved when he said this because I could finally let my hair down and pronounce my r's like l's the way I'm supposed to.

YOLO - You're in Kuwait.
There seems to be a general sense of entitlement which leads to recklessness. For example, if it rains and the streets flood, this probably means that you're supposed to go tubing in the streets. Safety isn't an issue; money can buy that.


The Radisson is the only hotel worth knowing.
I planned to take a taxi from the airport to my hotel, a seemingly easy task. I was kindly escorted by a nice lady to the taxi line where she told the scheduler, "The Radisson."

I said, "No, The Palms."

She said, "Right, The Palms."

The taxi driver approaches. "Radisson?"

"No, The Palms."

"The Palms?"

"Yes. Palms."

"Radisson?"

"Palms. Do you know it?"

At this point, 3 taxis gather to discuss the location of this elusive Palms Hotel. Unconcerned, I get in the taxi and just wait for them to figure it out.  He gets in the taxi too.  He says he knows it now.

We drive off and listen to his favorite American top 40 radio station, Triple 8 Marina.

After a long stretch of nothing, we reach some civilization.

"This is the Regency," he says to me.

"Yes, it is."

He points to a few more things. "Radisson. Starbucks. Movenpick."

After a couple times of confirming that he is in fact pointing to these things, I realize that he's actually asking me if I'm going to any of these places.  He slows down at the T.G.I.Friday's.  "Here?"

"No, that's a T.G.I.Friday's."

"Here?"

"No, that's a beauty salon."

"Radisson?"

"No, The Palms."

Maybe he didn't know where The Palms was. But he did let me wear his hat, so I still consider his ride a win.






Monday, November 18, 2013

AT in UAE: Lexicon Meets Vernacular

Everyone speaks English in the UAE. But similar to Singapore, I'm not sure everyone speaks the same language.

On top of that, I am less familiar with local names for things, so my context clues are off. So far I have learned that souk means market, and that the first letter of the Arabic alphabet looks like an exclamation point. That's how they get kids excited to learn.

Most of the time, this is fine. If it's a personal story, I just smile and say, "That's funny," or whatever star word adjective comes to mind first. If it's for work, then I listen until I can find a phrase to repeat back for comprehension. Or I pretend my hearing is really bad.

What's tricky is when there's a question that requires an actual answer. My colleague asked me, "Do you like gold souk?" 

I immediately responded with a heartfelt "Yes!" because I heard, "Do you like goat soup?" and I do love soup.

But after he talked for a little longer, I realized what he meant and there was no way to politely turn down his offer to take me to the souk because I thought he actually meant a pot of boiled things.

We saw the souk.  Coincidentally, we also had soup.


Gold Souk Goat Soup

Sunday, November 17, 2013

AT's Traveling 1-2-3

This is my third international trip for work. Like a pro, I knew exactly the travel essentials to bring this time.

1. Blankey, especially important for super mornings
2. Insulated tea tumbler, so I can have hot water wherever I go

3. Shakira, lives a double life as an exotic dancer and plane pillow

Please note that I did not pack a toothbrush.

Here we are ready to take on all of the Middle East.
Yee-haw! To the Middle East, Shakira!