In the Christian world, it’s holy week already. The other Christian foreigners in the office asked me if I was going to apply for leave on Black Saturday and/or Easter Sunday.
Huh?
Truth is, I didn’t give it much thought – when I was working in Japan, I worked on Good Friday and Christmas. These days are not special in the calendar there. Good thing that here in Dubai, Friday is the weekly day off for everyone so I’ll be automatically off on Good Friday this week.
Thursday will be an Islamic Holiday Mawlid an-Nabi (Prophet’s Birthday) so it will be a non-working holiday as well. I’m happy to get a two-day weekend this week!
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I was about to type, “this is my first holy week in Dubai” but I stopped because it isn’t! We relocated here last year and there was holy week for sure but I just didn’t remember a thing about it. There is no holy week in the calendar and I just completely forgot about it. My very Catholic mother will kill me if she knows!
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I actually think it’s really important to take time off on the “holy” days. It’s not about being religeus though, it’s about taking time for yourself/ your family. I’m in England, and it is all too easy to spend all your time working and not finding time off – the set bank holidays gives everyone a chance to take a day off without anyone feeling bad about it because your expected to take that day off.
Hi there,
You get to ski in the indoor skiing ramp.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Like yours too. Never been to Dubai but my husband goes there from time to time for work. I don’t think I could live there. I need seasons, I need nature (woods, mountains). I hate traffic jams and high buildings. I hate cities that grow like crazy and where building companies exploit poor workers from abroad by taking away their passports…
Oops. Didn’t want to sound harsh. I’m sure it’s a lovely place – especially the beaches.
Keep on posting and I will read about your life there.
It snowed today where I live
Hi Mimi,
Yeah, all those you pointed out about Dubai is true but I guess life is what you make it.
I have lived in a country with seasons. It was great so I welcomed the change here. Dubai has great weather 8 months of the year so I am happy with that. About the laborers, some things are beyond my control but I hope things will change for the better.
Thanks for reading! I will continue to write about this growing city as I go.
I really miss spending the Holy Week in the Philippines.
Today, it’s Good Friday and I’m at work!
I’m even eating meat!
shiera’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday #11: Typical Japanese Meal
I came across your blogsite from an expatmoms webiste about a lady who felt isolated unable to vent her frustrations.
http://www.expatmom.info/the-loneliest-day-of-my-life/
I am an American. My husband and I moved here to dubai from Saudi when I was 7 months pregnant, last July 2007. Anyway, like the lady from Guatemala. I dont have any friends or family here in Dubai. I am a very shy, introverted person, and it’s difficult for me to establish friendships. So when me and my husband have “spats” I am pretty much on my own. It’s just me and my baby girl. To be honest I feel horrible doing “everything” alone with my daughter. It’s heartbreaking seeing other families together, father’s playing with their baby daughters as my baby girl watches.
Angelica, you have mail.