OASISLIVING MAGAZINE MARCH 2011 by Emran Yousof

Tawam Hospital COVER STORY

67 I OASISLIVING

05 issue

General Manager

Yahya Naif Kahel

CONTENT

Publishing Director / Editor-in-Chief

Percy Chang Staff Writer

March 2011

Irene Shabaya Contributing Editor

Andrew Madigan Contributing Writers

Andrew Madigan, David Garvey, Ginette Collin, Henry Castle, Julie Madgwick, Marlina Guzowski, Maura Madigan, Toni Noble, Tony Ashton.

Interview Breaking Barriers Alia al Mazrouei

Emirati Contributing Advisor

Cover story Tribute to Motherhood

Reem Al Mansouri Arabic Translation

Mike Alatrache

Features The Dawn of History

Senior Creative Designer

Emran Yousof Graphic Design/Photography

Not Your Typical 9 to 5

Zarjan Azam Julie Madgwick

Learn a thing or two about

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In this issue...

Contributing Photographers

General Enquiry

Winner Takes All Getting it Done in Sanaya Should I Stay or Should I Go

32 48 56

Print Press

Al Ghurair Printing & Publishing

No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of Oasis Living Magazine. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2010 by Oasis Living Magazine. Oasis Living Magazine and Al Swaida Advertising & Publicity accept no liability for errors or omissions contained in this publication. Any articles and/or images included in this publication and/or opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Oasis Living Magazine and Al Swaida Advertising & Publicity but remain solely those of the author(s). Such publications have been included only for general reference and the purpose of fair review. Part of

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‫المقاالت التي‬ ‫تحتوي على هذا‬ ‫الرمز متوفرة‬ ‫في اللغة العربية‬ ‫واالنجليزية‬

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is printed with soya-based ink on 100% wood free recyclable paper.

FROM THE EDITOR

ot until I became a mother myself, I learned to appreciate my own mother in the way she really deserved. Let the truth be told, motherhood is the most challenging, but rewarding experience of my life and a job that I would never desire to retire from. My thought also goes out to the mothers (and fathers) who leave their familes and home countries to pursue job opportunities here in hope of providing a better future for their children. In this issue we pay tribute to Mothers, and find out what mom’s advice has meant for some of our residents, and how one mother manages to balance her career with motherhood in this environment. We give an insight in the different stages of motherhood, and also get some tips about well needed Me-Time.

mothers think of their son’s career choice when it comes to the Aerobatic daredevils featured in Winner Takes All. Fact is that whether we like it or not, our mothers have influenced us and shaped us into who we are today. Worth celebrating, don’t you think? And not to forget... Mother Earth. Could go on for a while, but duty calls in the form of our six-week old, colicky baby Alice. ;) Happy Reading!

If your mother lobbied for you to become a doctor or a lawyer you might question what the mothers told the individuals in “Not Your Typical 9 to 5”; a Falcon Trainer, an Animal Collection Manager, a Camel Trader & a Chocolate Master.....you might also wonder what the

Percy Chang Publishing Director percy@myoasisliving.com

LETTER TO EDITOR Al Ain’s Visionary Congratulations! Great feature of my boss, HE Zuhair Abul-Adeeb. Now we are able to catch a glimmer of such a great man and understand some of his contributions to to the royal family and to the city of Al Ain. I am truly proud of him! Please feature more of Al Ain’s great visionaries so that we can recognize and appreciate them too. Thanks again! Rudolf R. A. via Facebook Any Charity Donation Points? Firstly congratulations for such a great magazine about life and living in Al Ain! A truly good read for the entire family. There’s always a tussle in the house (amongst my little girls) as to who will get their hands first on the magazine! Thank you so much. Secondly, I would like to know if there is any organisation that collects old clothes to be sent to the needy in poor countries. I have collected a whole lot of old clothes that are in a good and wearable condition and would like this to be given to people in need. I am not sure if the church in Al Ain or any other institution collects old clothes. Please could I get some assistance in this regard. I am sure there must be a whole lot of people out there who want to do the same thing but just don’t know as to who collects old clothes for the needy. Preema W. Saini via Email The moment I received the copy of the February magazine, I had the impression of the Valentine straight away. I thought that it would be full of hearts and flowers inside. Yet, as I was going through it, I

OASISLIVING I 06

found that the my Oasis Living magazine is still my oasis - covering interesting topics that meets the expectation of readers at all levels. And it includes the events where it shares with the readers the happiness of the occasion. The magazine is dressed nicely and brightly from issue to issue, and give us the chance to communicate more and more with the Al Ain community. I should thank your Publishing Director, Percy Chang and her team for the excellent job they do. Wish you and the whole team a very happy Valentine full of love and success. Hani Al Khouly via Email We Asked, You Answered. via Facebook What is most important thing that your mother have taught you - and you will also pass it on to your children?

Seema Shelat My mom taught me to be a good human being towards everyone irrespective of caste, creed or color. Im sure my children have definitely imbibed thiz strong quality of mine. Essel Sharif MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME No matter what I do You always stick with me When I’m down You pick me up You hug me You love me You tell me how to keep My balance throughout life So I don’t fall down No one’s perfect Not me Not you But to me you’re as perfect as you’ll ever be

Marwan Mohd El Masri ‎ ”Pursue your own dreams and FOLLOW YOUR OWN HEART... Don’t make life choices based on what you think other people want you to do.”

More comments on this thread to inspire you on our Facebook Page.

Barbara Sluis-Cremer If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/OasisLiving-Magazine/

Amro Abu Kuhail how to cook. Noshy Nana my mother taught me that we don’t have to never lie. If we did something wrong, we have to face it but not lie or we make the problem to be twice.

APOLOGIES Page 12 in the February issue Tawam Hospital. H.E Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan should be referred as H.H Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan.

00000

05 I OASISLIVING

Useful Numbers in Al Ain about

Round Clock

Hospitals in Al Ain: Oasis Hospital Tel: +971 3 722 1251 Al Ain Hospital Tel: +971 3 763 5888 Tawam Hospital Tel: +971 3 767 7444 Al Noor Hospital Tel. +971 3 766 7666 Emirates International Hospital Tel. +971 3 763 7777 NMC Speciality Hospital Tel: +971 3 755 5999 Toll Free 800 662 Specialized Medical Care Hospital Tel. +971 3 755 2291

998 Ambulance 997 Civil Defense 999 Police

24-Hour Pharmacies:

Al Ain Hospital Pharmacy

Tel: 03-7635888 Al Ain Pharmacy Al Ain Distribution Company Toll Free: 800 9 008 03 7636000

Electricity 03 7641600 / 991

Water 03 763 8333

Tel: 03-7655120 Al Dewan Pharmacy

Tel: 03-7556112 Al Noor Pharmacy

Tel: 03-7655111 Al Yahar Pharmacy

Tel: 03-7816141 New Al Ain Pharmacy

Tel: 03-7554440 OASISLIVING I 08

Tawam Hospital COVER STORY

67 I OASISLIVING

COVER STORY Mother’s Day Special / The Stages of Motherhood

By Maura Madigan

The journey begins the moment you discover you’re pregnant and ends, well it never really ends. Before your baby is born you begin preparing, thinking about the choices you’ll make, what kind of mom you’ll be. You imagine what your life will be like. The reality doesn’t always match up, though. As soon as your child enters the world, according to Lynne Olsen, mother and grandmother, “Your life is never your own again.” That baby, who was once part of you, starts moving away little-by-little. OASISLIVING I 10

Mother’s Day Special / The Stages of Motherhood COVER STORY

New Baby

Everything is new. You spend the first 3 months trying to get a handle on your new life. Sleep deprivation, sore breasts, crazy hormones, and a supersaggy stomach are more than enough to make you feel like a stranger in your own body. You eat, sleep and breathe baby. She is (often literally) attached to you and it’s hard to think or talk about anything else. Of course there’s also the utter joy you get from watching your baby grow and change a little each day. Little compares to seeing your baby’s face light up when you walk into the room. So much pure love! You made this person. Now all you have to do it love, feed, clothe, educate, discipline, entertain and keep this person safe for the next 18-22 years. “It’s amazing and overwhelming all at once,” says Pamela Farah, new mom to a son (4 months old). “One minute you think, ‘This is great. I’ve got the hang of it,’ and the next minute you think, ‘I haven’t got a clue.’” Wafa Ahmed, mother of two (ages 2 and 7), says “When I had my first child, I was young, 21. I didn’t know what I was doing. Nobody teaches you how to be a parent… the most difficult job in the world. You are raising a human being and you don’t want to mess it up.” With her second child, Wafa did things differently. “When she was just a

little baby, I was talking and singing to her. With my son…it sounded silly to talk to a baby.” Wafa thinks her daughter developed language skills earlier because of this.

Toddler-Preschooler

Once your baby can walk, a whole new world opens up to her. You have to grow eyes in the back of your head. Your child still needs your help with most things, but she also needs room to explore. During this phase your child gradually becomes more independent. By the end, you’ve got a walking, talking, potty-trained little person! It’s an amazing time to be a mom, to watch your child discover everything for the first time. It can also be a time of frustration for both mother and child. The accuracy and speed at which your child is gaining skills can cause tantrums, outbursts, and full-scale meltdowns, often at the most inconvenient times. During this stage your patience will be tested daily and you need to become adept in the art of distraction. It’s also a time when your child is very loving. Hugs, kisses and declarations of love are everyday occurrences. For Aneela Bukhari, mother of three (16, 13 and 2), “Having teenagers and a toddler has brought the family closer together. The older siblings take pleasure at the different development milestones achieved with their baby sister. They are protective towards her, with a mature attitude, but also become her childish playmates. As a mother, I feel I have more patience with her, with a better

understanding of her developmental needs. This means I am more relaxed and enjoy my time with her, as I can spend more time interacting with her when her siblings are doing their own thing.”

School Aged

When your child enters school you may become a chauffeur, social coordinator, and tutor. Your child now has new adult influences, which takes some of the attention away from you. Their peers also have a greater influence over them. You get a bit more time to yourself, but your child still needs you in many ways. She’ll need your experience and advice to help navigate the problems that will inevitably crop up. There will be fights with friends, teasing, bullying, issues with teachers and homework. It’s hard to know when to intervene and when to let your child make her own mistakes. Asa Smith, mother of two (ages 8 and 11) says that since her children are in school she’s got more time during the day. She also says, “It’s fun. You get involved and go on school trips.” Now that her children are older, “School is the biggest challenge, homework especially,” for Carla O’Dwyer, mother of two boys (9 and nearly 13). She finds that her children “need a lot more emotional support as they get older.” She tries to spend alone time with each of her boys to ensure this happens.

11 I OASISLIVING

COVER STORY Mother’s Day Special / The Stages of Motherhood

Teenager

The teenage years are often associated with rebellion. This is the stereotypical portrayal of teen life that most parents anticipate and dread. Your child is caught between childhood and adulthood, between needing you and needing to be left alone. It can be a trying time, having to decide when to stand firm and when to simply listen. It can also be a wonderful time as you watch your child take on greater responsibility and make decisions for herself. Kate Rowntree, mother of two and grandmother of one, calls the teenage years “terrifying”: “At times it just becomes about keeping them alive…But the core, the nub during this entire process is the overwhelming feeling of responsibility that I had, which at times seemed an extraordinarily heavy burden.” Michelle Marais, mother of three (ages 8, 9 and 19), gives a unique perspective on raising teens in the

Having teenagers and a toddler has brought the family closer together. The older siblings take pleasure at the different development milestones achieved with their baby sister. OASISLIVING I 12

UAE. She says, “In this part of the world a lot of things are restricted. Tempations are taken away so [teens] don’t learn certain life skills.” She thinks it might be better if kids were exposed to these temptations and learned to handle themselves, to say no. Michelle believes this lack of experience delays growing up. She also says that it’s important to listen to your kids. Once they get older “it becomes a democracy” and it’s “important for them to know you value their opinions.”

Empty Nest

Your children have all grown up and moved out. For some moms this is the moment they’ve been waiting for. They’re free to do whatever they want. It can also be a time of great sadness and some women feel lost, not knowing what to do with themselves. Marriages can falter at this time as well, especially if it coincides with retirement. Some couples forget how to interact without the children as a buffer. They may find they have little in common anymore. Other couples use this time to renew their relationships, to travel, or take up new hobbies. The day each of her children left home was extremely sad for Toni Noble, mother of three children in their 20s. She says she felt “physically sick. It was not the same. The house was very quiet. That’s what I found really hard. You worry about your children when they are with you, but you worry more when they leave home.” Kate says, “The pain of loss can be extreme, but for me was mixed with feelings of pride and, secretly, a sense of relief. I can enjoy these gorgeous young adults, marvel at their individuality, engage in stimulating, funny and touching conversations, but know that they are making their own choices now, that I have done my best, and that it was good enough. I am hugely

proud of them. The overwhelming love that is the gift of motherhood is once again a delight rather than a burden.”

Grandchildren

Perhaps one of the greatest joys in life is watching your child become a parent. You get to revel in your grandchildren without having to deal with the responsibilities and frustrations that accompany childrearing. Your child may look to you for guidance or she may not. Perhaps her ideas on childrearing differ from your own and that’s okay. It may be difficult, but try to avoid giving advice unless it’s requested. Kate, a new grandmother, has this to share: “Being a grandmother, while unexpected, is as many said it would bethis miraculous experience, all the best bits of parenthood once removed, all the lovely ‘love’ bits, but none of the responsibility! The temptation is there, of course, to insert my two cents worth when my daughter-in-law makes choices I wouldn’t, but I have actively avoided this trap and the delights of ‘grandparenthood’ abound.” So, the journey of motherhood comes full-circle. For most women motherhood is a life-long process that has its share of stresses and disappointments, but many more joys. I think most moms would agree with Wafa: “Children help you grow…I became more patient, understanding. Motherhood is who I am, what makes me a better person.”

COVER STORY Mother’s Day Special / Mom Say’s

MOM SAYS Wise Words from Mom By Irene Shabaya

Being a mother is a fulltime job; it is a career that requires a lot of hard work and dedication. We salute mothers and their hard efforts in what they do to bring us up and teach us lessons of life. We asked a diverse group of people what lessons they learned from their mother that they will remember for life and will pass on to their children.

Mohammed Sultan Mohammed, 60, Tanzanian

Among the key lessons his mother taught him was to embrace positivity in life and respect others because, “everybody has a personality of their own and they need to be respected despite differences you may have.”

OASISLIVING I 14

Mother’s Day Special / Mom Say’s COVER STORY

Mohammed Amin, 28, Palestinian

With the trivials of life, she taught me how to survive. Not just physically but emotionally as well. With all that life gives you, she taught me to embrace happiness and smile through it all.

Rashid,

Senni,

6, Finland

46, Pakistani

He remembers his mother telling him that, “life is easy for those who want it easy, nothing is difficult.” He also adds he was told to think before acting and believe in God.

Her mother always reminds her to be open minded towards others and friendly and go out of her way to meet new people.

One of the greatest lessons he learned from his mother and carries forth till today is the need to be helpful to the needy in the community as well as express some courtesy to them.

28, Emirati

Samara Datta,

Sanoer,

Annie,

A saying of her mother’s goes like, “save today for that rainy day, because when it rains it pours.” Also adding, “treat all living things the way you want to be treated!”

He was taught the concept of caring for others in the light of his mother’s example. He was reminded that when the time comes for him to have his own family, he must be able to “love and care” for others in the same way his mother cared for him.

Her mom taught her to take care of a baby by learning how to hold and changing a diaper.

39, British

Mohammed Nasser, 33, Jordanian

Mohamed says that his spiritual nature was taught to him by his mother, always reminding him to honor his religion and he confesses that, “when I was facing tough times, she would be the one praying for me, now , I am successful because of her.” He adds “she is my life.”

Ashfar,

31, Filipino

12, American

Braden,

2 1/2,

American

Lola,

77, Swedish She was reminded as a young girl to be polite to elders, children and animals because they are vulnerable and cannot defend themselves.

Just to be independent in doing little things, like when he wants to use the toilet, he will insist on assisting himself!

15 I OASISLIVING

COVER STORY Mother’s Day Special / What About Some Me-Time?

What About Some Me-Time ? By D. Perdy

OASISLIVING I 16

Mother’s Day Special / What About Some Me-Time? COVER STORY

e-Time, or taking time for yourself , is something we all know about, but do you really get the right amount? If you’re a parent, there’s always something else that requires your time and attention. Maybe you’ve thought, “I’ll be neglecting my kids” or “I just have to get this done.” There are many excuses for not taking time for yourself, but if you don’t, who will? Modern life can be stressful, even here in quaint Al Ain. Trying to satisfy the needs of others leads us to neglect our own needs. The other day, I said to a busy but obviously fatigued mother, “You need some time for yourself.” Her response was to smile, shrug and say weakly, “I will if I can.” I wanted to scream, “Nooooo!” Medical experts have repeatedly pointed out that prolonged stress isn’t healthy. We don’t need doctors to tell us this, however. We know it intuitively, and some of us know it physically. The Mayo Clinic, one of the USA’s top five hospitals, lists several damaging health effects that result from stress: fatigue, loss of muscle tissue, reduced kidney function, hypertension, and suppressed immune function. Are you tired of forgetting stuff? Me too. Stress can also cause memory loss and a reduced attention span. Women, this message is for you in particular. According to a 2010 American Psychological Association report, women report higher levels of stress than men and married women report higher levels than single women. Not having a break doesn’t

just affect you. The APA report also states that 91% of children know that a parent is stressed because of yelling, arguing or complaining. Four in ten children feel sad when a parent is stressed or worried. Taking care of oneself is not a selfish act; it’s a necessary one. However, because it doesn’t seem urgent, relaxation time is often viewed as optional. Stephen Covey describes what he calls four fundamental needs: physical, mental, social, and spiritual. These needs are interrelated and Covey suggests time be set aside each week to address all of them. The result is a fulfilling sense of balance. For example, addressing our mental needs will give us added knowledge or perspective for situations that arise in social areas. Spending time on spiritual renewal might influence daily decisions. Meeting our social needs creates deeper relationships. If you have more satisfying relationships, the need to engage in reckless behavior, such as impulse shopping, is greatly diminished. Taking time for yourself is not a mindless, purposeless activity when it’s spent addressing these fundamental needs. The best way to do this is to make them a part of your weekly schedule. Sit down every week and spend a few minutes planning your Me-Time. So, how can you block that time if you’re in Al Ain? Let’s start with one of the best things we have swimming pools. Find a lounge chair and spend a quiet morning relaxing or reflecting. Al Ain is known as the Garden City for a

Taking care of oneself is not a selfish act; it’s a necessary one. However, because it doesn’t seem urgent, relaxation time is often viewed as optional. Stephen Covey describes what he calls four fundamental needs: physical, mental, social, and spiritual. reason. Flowers are everywhere. Parks are empty during the day, so they’re another option. You can also renew your energy with a bit of recreational fitness. However, some of us need a little more willpower to get started. There are several options for those who have desire, but still need a little push to get out there. Al Ain has the expertise of certified fitness professionals ready to get you on your way–think Pilates, horse riding, or weight training. You might try them one-on-one or join a class. Consider pursuing that interest in dance or guitar by signing up for a class. There’s also a new social sports league that offers lots of opportunities to be active in a group

17 I OASISLIVING

COVER STORY Mother’s Day Special / What About Some Me-Time?

environment. Al Ain also has running clubs, new moms groups, and if you just need a partner, you can form your own small group by posting an ad. Being committed to a group forces you to take time for yourself. If you prefer solitary down time, a walk or run though the wadi, or through a local park, is perfect. If you prefer to be at home, give yourself a quiet space where you go to read, practice a hobby or relax. Let your family know that while you’re engaging in your activity you’re not to be disturbed for trivial matters. Only if someone is bleeding profusely should they bother you. And of course there are spas. Al Ain is fortunate to have a variety of luxurious spas and salons that know how to revitalize you. Some spas allow you to buy a package of massages at a discount, so you can be sure to get your renewal time on a regular basis. One spa uses organic products. Other spas run monthly specials that make repeat visits more affordable. To address your mental needs, why not take an Arabic class? Or you and friends might enjoy a walking tour though the town centre to give you a fuller sense of the people and various cultures we live amongst. My husband loves walking around downtown. He says it helps him feel connected to Al Ain instead of just seeing it from his car, and from the very limited view most expatriates get from

OASISLIVING I 18

the malls and hotels. I would not recommend doing this on a Friday evening, however.

clothes or drive. You may want to use the “pause” button, though, when you approach roundabouts.

Do you remember when you had time to read? You still do, but you have to give yourself the OK to do it. Take a book with you on your morning coffee break or to bed before turning out the light. Alternatively, convert that boring or stressful commute each day by catching up on your “reading” via audio book. Listening to an audio book is like taking a mini-vacation during drivetime. There are also excellent free podcasts available online that will inspire you, teach you, or entertain you while you walk, stand in line, fold

We all have friends but probably don’t see them as much as we’d like. While the weather is good, meet a friend for an outdoor breakfast or cup of coffee. If you’re worried about leaving the kids behind, don’t. Children actually enjoy being around people besides you, so look for opportunities to share childcare with friends. I remember the joy I felt when I was able to leave my son with a good friend while I went to the hair salon for the first time in ages. Just as I started to worry, I received a text from her saying, “He’s fine. Don’t worry.” Having weekly playdates is also win-win. Parents get to visit other adults while the children get to hang out with their peers. Finally, include your spouse in MeTime. Scheduling regular “dates” with your spouse (“We-Time”?) is necessary when day-today interaction is reduced to text messages and brief exchanges during dinner. The key is, don’t make excuses for not taking time for yourself. Me-Time isn’t simply time you take away from your children or husbandit’s time invested in being a parent and wife.

ACTIVITIES Alliance Française Al Ain

www.af-alain.org Ketty Laurent 0566018430 French Film Night at 8pm ( with English subtitles ) every second Sunday at the Alliance Française of Al Ain (French Cultural Center) near the airport roundabout.

The Al Ain Toastmasters Club, founded in 2001, strives to help members develop their public speaking, evaluation and leadership skills in a friendly supportive environment. Meetings start at 7:30 pm at Tawam Hospital on the 1st + 3rd Tuesdays of the month.

Al Ain Vipers Youth Hockey Club Angels of Mercy

Angels of Mercy is a cancer support, educational and awareness group. Our goals include providing the necessary tools and support for cancer patients from the time of diagnosis till the end of their treatment. We meet regularly with patients and their families in a friendly environment where they can express their emotions, gather information and speak freely to professionals as well as cancer survivors. The Angels of Mercy Cancer Support group meeting will be held on Wednesday 23rd March 2011 at the Palm sports resort Equestrian club meeting room. For more information contact us at: angelsofmercy20@yahoo.com

Al Ain Hash House Harriers

Run and walk (roughly for forty five minutes/an hour) every Monday in different places around Al Ain (children are welcome to participate). In the summer at 6.00 pm and winter at 5.15 pm you can contact: Georges Marble 0506230411/ 03 7688866 or Jude Howlett on 0506187244 .

Al Ain Netball Club

al.ain.netball@gmail.com Nicola - 050 3349757 The Ladies Netball Club plays on Sunday and Tuesday 7pm 9pm at the Al Ain Hilton. Sundays is netball training and fitness led by an ex UK National League player and coach and Tuesday is league night. Come down and get straight into game play on Tuesday nights. All levels, ages and abilities welcome - we cater for all! A squad of 10 serious, competitive players travel to Dubai every Wednesday to play in the Dubai League.

Al Ain Community Library

The Al Ain Community Library has been open for over 5 years, staffed by volunteers. We are located at the Al Ain English Speaking School, in the Falaj Hazzaa school area. The library has over 10,000 books, either donated by the community or bought new using membership fees of 150 dhs per year. The opening times are Friday 11.00 am – 1.00 pm and Sunday 2.30 pm – 4.00 pm. For further information please contact Asa Smith asalives@hotmail.com

Al Ain Toastmasters club

The Vipers are members of the UAE Minor Ice Hockey Association and play in tournaments in Al Ain, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as participate in tournaments abroad. The group is made up of boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 18 with more than 15 nationalities represented. All players are welcome regardless of ability or previous experience. Training takes place at Hili Fun City and the Al Ain Mall. To register or get more details go to www.alainvipers.com or contact Tim at 050 763 6120 or Alex on 050 330 1065

Animal Welfare Al Ain

info@animalwelfarealain.com www.animalwelfarealain.com Non-profit organization, run by volunteers, dedicated to improving the welfare of animals in Al Ain.

Emirates Natural History Group (ENHG)

Meets every second and fourth Tuesday at the Danat Al Ain Resort (formerly the Intercontinental Hotel) Sign up for free mailing list and receive weekly activity notices, conferences and trips at www.enhg.org for further info contact info@enhg.org

Living Water Library at the Al Ain Evangelical Church

contact: 055 736 2692 Library open to everyone in the community & free of charge Open on: Fridays 9:00 a.m. to 1: 00 p.m. Mondays 8.00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Tuesdays 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

UAEoffroaders

www.uaeoffroaders.com Every week we run trips for all levels of drivers in various locations, including Al Ain, Al Saad, Sweihan, Al Khazna and Al Khatim. Membership is free for all enthusiasts.

* You may submit your listing to info@myoasisliving.com (non-profit, community-based organisations only)

Shannon Glasgow 050-663-2550 shannonglasgow@yahoo.com

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FEATURE Not Your Typical 9 to 5

Not Your Typical

9to5

We talk to four individuals from diverse backgrounds based in Al Ain with careers that are worth talking about–they take us back to their childhood dreams and how they evolved to become successful in the fields they are working in. Check out their job profiles below and you be the judge.

OASISLIVING I 20

‫لم يكن مألوفًا لديكم من‬

٥ ٩ ‫إلى‬

‫نحن سنتحدث إلى أربعة أشخاص ذوي خلفيات ونشاطات‬ ‫ وهذه النشاطات تستحق التحدث‬، ‫مختلفة في مدينة العين‬ ‫ فلقد أعادونا إلى أحالم الطفولة وكيفية تطورها لتصبح‬. ‫عنها‬ . ‫حقيقية وناضجة في المجاالت التي يعملون فيها‬ ‫وسوف نتابع األعمال التي قامو بها من خالل قراءتنا لبقية‬ : ‫المقال وذلك القرار في اتخاذ الحكم عليها‬

Not Your Typical 9 to 5 FEATURE

Mohammed Salem Al Kaabi, Falcon Trainer, Emirati

With experience spanning over fifteen years, Mohammed is a skilled falcon trainer. The basic techniques and skills that go into falcon hunting were taught to him as a young man by his father who learned from his Bedouin forefathers. A typical day begins by preparing the Mekhlah; this is a bag used by the falconer to carry accessories. After ensuring that all equipment is ready, he heads to the desert with his falcons to catch some prey. The most common prey are desert hare, stone curlew and the houbara bustard. The art of falconry has taught him patience and selfreliance. However, it can be frustrating “when we do not find a lot of prey after spending a lot of time in the desert.” Another low is the government’s restriction of falcon hunting. Nonetheless, Mohammed appreciates the UAE’s efforts in encouraging falconry as a sport. Growing up, Mohammed envisioned himself as a businessman. He is truly proud of what he does, and in three years he hopes to establish himself as the lead falcon trainer in the UAE. For anyone wanting to trade shoes with Mohammed, he warns that it takes a lot of patience and a profound love for falconry. A common thought is that falconry is only open to Emiratis. “It is not limited to Emiratis. It is open to those that are willing to learn.” Intriguingly, we met with Guy Foster, an American whom Mohammed has trained. Seeing him put his falconry skills to work is quite impressive. Lastly, Mohammed urges this legacy to be preserved and “taught to youngsters… falcon hunting should be maintained traditionally as it is without the use of rifles.”

،‫محمد سالم الكعبي‬ ‫وهو مدرب الصقور اإلماراتي‬

‫ فقد تعلم مبادئ التدريب‬، ‫لديه من الخبرة أكثر من خمسة عشر عامًا‬ ‫وتقنياته ومهاراته من والده وهو صغير عندما كان يأخذه للصيد‬ . ‫ووالده بدوره قد تعلم مهارات تدريب الصقور من أجداده البدو‬ ‫في يوم جميل قام محمد بتهيئة األغراض التي يريدها من أجل‬ ‫الصيد وبعد التحقق من كامل جاهزيته إنطلق إلى الصحراء مع‬ .... ‫صقره للصيد وإلتقاط الحباري والحجل وغيرها من الطيور‬ ‫لقد تعلم محمد من الصيد عن طريق الصقور أشياء شخصية كثيرة‬ ‫ ولكن هناك‬. ‫ إلخ‬..... ‫ اإلصغاء والهدوء واإلعتماد على النفس و‬:‫منها‬ ‫ أولهما إنتظارك الطويل‬، ‫شيئين يحبطانك في هذا النوع من الصيد‬ ‫ وثانيهما القوانين الصارمة‬، ‫في الصحراء مع عدم إصطيادك شئ‬ ‫ وتحويلها‬، ‫للصيد باستخدام الصقور في اإلمارات العربية المتحدة‬ . ‫من صيد إلى رياضة لتدريب الصقور‬ ‫ وهو‬، ‫مع تقدم محمد بالعمر وزيادة خبرته شعر بأنه رجل أعمال ناجح‬ ‫فخور بذلك ويأمل أنه خالل السنوات الثالث القادمة أن يصبح مدرب‬ . ‫الصقور األول في اإلمارات العربية المتحدة‬ ‫ لكل من يريد أن يحل محله ويصبح صيادًا ومدرب‬:‫ويقول محمد‬ ‫ فيجب أن تكون على‬، ‫صقور إن الطريق إلى ذلك ليس باألمر السهل‬ , ‫باإلضافة إلى حبك العميق لها‬، ‫قدر كبير من الصبر والثقة بالنفس‬ . ‫وإن هذه الرياضة مفتوحة لإلماراتيين فقط‬ ،‫أما تعلم كيفية تدريب الصقور فهي مفتوحة لكل من يود التعليم‬ ً ‫ومن المثير لإلهتمام أن رج‬ ‫ال أمريكيًا من اللذين علمهم محمد قام‬ ‫ وقد قام بعمل مثير لإلعجاب‬، ‫بوضع مهاراته في الصيد قيد التنفيذ‬ ‫ ويحث‬، ‫وأخيرًا يشجع محمد الناس على الحفاظ على هذا التراث‬. ‫حقًا‬ ‫الشباب على تعلم هذه الرياضة كرياضة تقليدية بدل إستعمال‬ . ‫األسلحة في الصيد‬

21 I OASISLIVING

FEATURE Not Your Typical 9 to 5

Farshid Mehrdadfar,

Animal Collection Manager, Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort, American Farshid’s job involves traveling to the four corners of the globe and interacting with animals, meeting with team members, writing reports, and ensuring the health and food needs of the animals are taken care of. He loves his job and “would not trade it for anything.” The beginning of his career was unintentional. While working at the Oregon Zoo managing its database, a colleague suggested he have a look at the zoo’s volunteer program. “I started working as a temporary keeper on call, meaning I did not get paid and had to fill in for people who were on vacation or were not available.” Soon enough his hard work paid off and he began traveling to Namibia and South Africa to help out with the facilities based there. With this in mind, he never took anything for granted and saw every opportunity as a learning experience.

It is not a matter of academia that will not make you a keeper. Either you have it or you do not. OASISLIVING I 22

Farshid advises that, “It is not a matter of academia that will not make you a keeper. Either you have it or you do not.” One must have the ability to stay in touch with nature and be fond of animals. Farshid grew up on a farm. His favorite memory is the first-of-its-kind project they undertook, producing a sand cat through embryo insemination. Being a part of this project made him happy. He wants to travel to Namibia and Yemen. Namibia is one of his favorite locations for its great outdoors and the warmth of the people. He plans to retire there.

،‫فارشيد مهرداد فار‬

‫وهو المدير العام لكافة حدائق الحيوان‬ ‫في العالم والعين وأمريكا خاصة‬

‫إن عمله يتطلب منه السفر إلى كافة‬ ‫أنحاء العالم مهتمًا بالحياة البرية وبصحة‬ ‫الحيوانات الموجودة فيها وكيفية االعتناء‬ ‫ وهو يحب‬، ‫بها من حيث الغذاء والدواء‬ .‫عمله كثيرًا واليريد تبديله بأي عمل أخر‬ ‫ففي بداية حياته العملية وبينما كان‬ ‫يعمل في حديقة الحيوان بأورغون الواليات‬ ، ‫المتحدة االميركية كمدير إدارة البيانات‬ ‫وفي يوم من االيام إقترح عليه زمليه في‬ َ ‫العمل بأن‬ ‫يطلع على البرامج القديمة‬ ‫ وقد‬، ‫للمتطوعين في هذه الحديقة‬ ‫تبين ان فارشيد بدأ عمله في الحديقة‬ ‫ فهو يأخذ موقع كل‬، ‫كمتطوع بغير أجرة‬ .‫عامل يتغيب عن العمل ليحل محله‬ ‫بعد وقت قصير من العمل التطوعي‬ ، ‫الصعب بدأت تظهر نتائجه على فارشيد‬ ‫فقد بدأ يترحل ويسافر إلى النمسا وجنوب‬ ‫أفريقيا ليرافق االشخاص المتمركزين‬ ‫ وقال أنه لم يكن وجوده في هذه‬، ‫هناك‬ ‫ ولكن يعدها‬، ‫البلدان عبثا وأمرا مسلم به‬ ‫كنقطة إنطالق وفرصة كبيرة ليتعلم‬ .‫ويأخذ الخبرة‬ ‫وينصح فارشيد أنه “ ليس من المهم أن‬ ‫تكون جامعيًا لتصبح شيئ ما وإنما هي‬ .“ ً‫قدرتكم على ان تكونوا أوال‬ ‫يجب على االنسان لكي يحتل منصبًا مثل‬ ‫منصبي أن تكون لديه القدرة على البقاء‬ ‫واإلتصال مع الطبيعة وولعًا بالحياة البرية‬ .‫والحيوانات‬ ‫ففارشيد قد نشأ في مزرعة خاصة وأفضل‬ ‫شيئ كان يلوح بذاكرته دائمًا هي أول‬ ‫ إنها عملية تلقيح‬، ‫مهمة اوكلت إليه‬ ‫ وقام بهذه‬، ‫صناعي إلنتاج قط الرمال‬ ‫المهمة بنجاح وأخيرًا يقول فارشيد إنه‬ ‫يريد أن يقوم بجولة إلى كل من اليمن‬ ‫ونامبيا وهي بالنسبة له واحدة من‬ ‫المواقع المفضلة بهوائها العليل وبدفئ‬ ‫أهلها وأصالتهم وهو يخطط للتقاعد‬ . ‫هناك‬

Not Your Typical 9 to 5 FEATURE

Omar Ali,

Camel Trader Al Ain Central Market, Sudanese Omar has been in the business of camel trading for over two decades. “I started with the old camel market that was located at Murub’aa area near the Al Ain National Museum and when we relocated here I have stayed since then.” He sources camels from around the Emirates and ensures that they are in good healthy condition for sale. After an agreement has been reached between the retail trader and the rearer the camels are transported to the camel market for sale. Moreover, he has to ensure that the camels go through a routine health check-up and have the necessary brocella free certificate. The breed of camel he sells are the shaheen, hamlul and sukhan. Their milk production, bearable ability and racing strengths make them attractive to buyers. Omar confesses that his camel trade is not just rooted in the UAE; even when he goes back to his home country, he practices the trade. One of the factors that gives him pleasure in his work is that the camel is a holy animal across the Middle East. Omar says he will not be leaving this trade anytime soon. He adds that his job means that he spends six months in the UAE and then relocates to his homeland for another six months. A camel trader has to be disciplined and patient, “Buyers come and go. Maybe today they will purchase and tomorrow they will not. You need to be patient to survive.”

،‫عمر علي‬

‫وهو تاجر الجمال السوداني في مركز‬ ‫سوق العين‬

‫إن عمر يقوم بأعمال تجارة الجمال من‬ ‫ ويتابع‬، ‫أكثر من عقدين من الزمن‬ ‫القول لقد بدأت حياتي العملية‬ ‫بسوق الجمال القديم والموجود‬ ‫بمنطقة المربع والقريبة من متحف‬ ‫ ومنذ ان تغير موقع‬، ‫العين الوطني‬ . ‫السوق بقيت فيها حتى اآلن‬ ‫إن مصدر الجمال الرئيسي يأتي من‬ ‫ وهذه الجمال‬، ‫كل أنحاء دولة اإلمارات‬ ‫تتعرض للفحص الطبي الدقيق‬ ‫ وبعد إتفاق‬، ‫لتكون صالحة للبيع‬ ‫البيع بين تاجر الجملة وتاجر المفرق‬ ‫يقوم تاجر المفرق بنقل الجمال إلى‬ ‫ باإلضافة الى أن التجار‬، ‫السوق لبيعها‬ ‫ و أن‬، ‫يجب يتأكدوا من صحة الجمال‬ ‫يحصلوا على شهادة خلو الجمال من‬ ، ‫األمراض السارية‬ ‫”وأن أنواع‬.... ‫ومنها مرض “البروسيال‬ :‫الجمال التي يقوم ببيعها هي‬ ،‫الشاهين والحاملول وسوقهان‬ ‫وتتمتع هذه الجمال بجودة حليبها‬ ‫وسرعتها مما يجعلها جذابة‬ . ‫للمشترين‬ ‫ويعترف عمر أن تجارة الجمال ليست‬ ، ‫محصورة فقط في دولة اإلمارات‬ ‫فهو عندما يعود إلى بلده يقوم‬ ‫ وإن واحدة من‬، ‫بتجارة الجمال ايضًا‬ ‫أهم الحقائق التي تعطيه متعة هي‬ ‫ان الجمال حيوانات ذات مكانة عالية‬ ‫ومقدسة لدى السكان في الشرق‬ .‫األوسط‬ ً ‫ويتابع عمر قائ‬ ‫ال أنه لن يترك تجارة‬ ‫الجمال في أي وقت قريب فهو يحب‬ ‫ وأن عمله يفرض عليه‬، ‫هذه التجارة‬ ‫إمضاء ستة شهور في دولة اإلمارات‬ ‫ ونتيجة‬. ‫وستة أشهر أخرى في بلده‬ ‫لذلك فإن تجارة الجمال تريد كثيرًا من‬ ‫ ألن الزبائن تأتي‬, ‫اإلنضباط والهدوء‬ ‫وتذهب وربما تشتري وتأخذ بضاعتها‬ ‫ وربما ال تشتري فيجب أن تكون هادء ُا‬، . ‫كي تعيش‬

Buyers come and go. Maybe today they will purchase and tomorrow they will not. You need to be patient to survive. 23 I OASISLIVING

FEATURE Not Your Typical 9 to 5

Hassan Hassan, Chocolate Master, Lebanese

If there were a person to envy, it would have to be Hassan, who works with chocolate on a daily basis. However, it means something different to him: “It is all about creativity and what you can do with chocolate as opposed to having the necessary skills in pastry.”

‫إنه ليس حسدًا فإن كان هناك شخصًا‬ ‫ناجحًا فال بد أن يكون حسن الذي‬ ‫يعمل وبشكل يومي في مجال صناعة‬ ‫ وهي تعني له شيئًا آخر‬، ‫الشوكوالته‬ ‫كاإلبداع في طريقة إنتاج الشوكوالته‬ ‫وما يمكن القيام به بشكل ال يتعارض‬ ‫الالزمة لصناعة عجين‬. ‫مع المهارات‬ . ‫الشوكوال‬

Hassan’s career kicked off when he was 18. Growing up, he had always been fascinated by science and mathematics. However, he became impressed by a local pastry shop in his home-town after seeing the chefs work their magic with chocolate. Hassan decided to invest his time with the chefs so that he could learn a thing or two. He later embarked on professional courses to better his knowledge in the field. This took him to Belgium, France, Switzerland, Canada and Italy.

‫إن مهنة حسن بدأت عندما كان عمره‬ ‫ ومنذ نشأته إهتم‬، ‫ثمانية عشرة عامًا‬ ‫ ولكن عندما شاهد‬، ‫بعلوم الرياضيات‬ ‫حسن من خالل مروره ورؤيته لمحالت‬ ، ‫االحلويات والشوكوالته أعجب بها‬ ‫وبطريقة صناعتها ومنذ ذلك الحين قرر‬ ‫أن يصرف وقتًا كافيًا مع صانع للحلويات‬ ‫والشوكالته لكي يتعلم شيئًا يستفيد‬ . ‫منه في المستقبل‬

He put his skills to the test by participating in the 2005 World Chocolate Championship in Paris. Hassan emerged the winner and, looking back on that day, says, “It was as if I was in a dream.” Having been involved in the industry for 15 years, he says that “No day is ever the same with chocolate.”

It is all about creativity and what you can do with chocolate as opposed to having the necessary skills in pastry. OASISLIVING I 24

،‫حسن حسن‬

‫وهو سيد الشوكوالته اللبناني‬

In the near future, Hassan hopes to establish a chocolate sculpture gallery. This may prove a little difficult to stop people from nibbling at the chocolate. For anyone wanting to get into his line of work, he advises that one should have talent and creativity. The three key ingredients that go into being the perfect chocolate master are flavor, taste and technique!

‫وبعد وقتًا قصير صعد حسن إلى‬ ‫مستوى أعلى فأخذ دورات مهنية‬ ( ‫لتعلم أشياء جديدة في مجال عمله‬ ‫ وهذا ماحمله ليكي‬، )‫صناعة الشوكوال‬ ‫يدرس في كل من بلجيكا وفرنسا‬ ‫ ولقد‬. ‫وسوسيرا وكندا وأخيرا إيطاليا‬ ‫وضع حسن مهاراته وخبراته قيد‬ ‫التجربة من خالل مشاركته في عام‬ ‫ لبطولة العالم في الشوكوال في‬2005 ‫ وربحها وبهذه اللحظة نظر‬، ‫باريس‬ ‫حسن إلى أيامه الماضية وشعر كأنه‬ ‫ فمنذ خمسة عشر عامًا‬.‫حلمًا سريعًا‬ ‫قد إنخرط في مجال الشوكوالته (ما‬ )‫من يوم كان شبيهًا لما قبله‬ ‫وفي المستقبل القريب يقول حسن إنه‬ ‫يتمنى أن يأسس معرضًا للنحت على‬ ‫ وهذا قد يبرهن أنه من‬، ‫الشوكوالته‬ ‫الصعب أن نقف أمام الشوكوالته من‬ ‫ونصيحة اريد أن أقدمها‬. ‫غير أن يتذوقها‬ ‫لكل شخص يريد أن يدخل مجال العمل‬ ‫في الشوكوالته بأنه يجب أن يكون لديه‬ ‫ وأن يعرف إن‬، ‫قدرًا من الموهبة واإلبداع‬ ‫هناك ثالث مكونات رئيسية حتى تبدأ‬ ‫بشكل جيد في هذا المجال وتصبح‬ ‫سيدًا فيه وهذه األشياء هي ( النكهة‬ . ) ‫واألطعمة و التقنية‬

Not Your Typical 9 to 5 FEATURE

21 I OASISLIVING

PROFILE Through the lens

THROUGH

THE LENS

tuart Perry is a British photojournalist residing in Al Ain. Originally from Birmingham, he converted to Islam eight years ago with a Muslim name Abdul Hafeedh, which means ‘Servant of Allah, the Great Protector.’ With a passion for photography, he lives and breathes photography adding that, “it consumes most of my life.” His passion for photography began as a young lad, when he was twelve years old; a friend of his father took him out with a couple of Kodak Instamatics to photograph the dawn. As he puts it, “I enjoyed it so much, just the feeling of interacting with the scene but without being a real part of it and yet capturing the beauty that was there.” It was from here that his lifelong affair with photography began. Having lived in Al Ain for the past two years, his favorite location is around Jebel Hafeet, because of its remarkable landscapes, and Sanaiya for its people and stories. What he most admires about Al Ain is its history, “Al Ain is like a huge historical transit lounge for culture and people.” Photography is a skill that Stuart has cultivated over the years. Some of his key influences are Henri Cartier-Bresson, Steve McCurry, Peter Sanders, Jak Kilby and the great “trial and error” school. One of his favorite photographers is Steve McCurry, who shot to fame in the early 1980s with the image of a young Afghan girl as his subject. For Stuart, this particular image speaks volumes because, “it captures fear with a portrait image in a war scenario.” An area he would like to ultimately explore and capture is the private palaces of the UAE. Meanwhile, in the near future his top destinations to shoot would be Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Morocco, Greenland and Hawaii. Stuart urges aspiring photographers to first understand how the camera works, “Whatever you do, don’t buy expensive equipment first, thinking it is going to improve photography…photography improves with practice, not money. Only image quality improves with money.” He prefers digital photography because the result is immediate, “I can understand difficult-lit scenes very quickly and compensate accordingly simply by checking the test shots on the LCD. No need for light meters or zoning techniques anymore or expensive film going to waste on a dodgy-lit scene. Digital is quick, reliable and cheaper too.” One might think that photographers are born with talent, but according to Stuart anyone can be a photographer, though some do it better, “It really isn’t hard to press a button and twiddle the lens.” He tells me that, in his family, his mother plays with the camera and his wife is pretty good with the camera. In the near future Stuart hopes to expand his talent into motion pictures, shooting documentaries. © Stuart Perry

OASISLIVING I 26

27 I OASISLIVING

City Events Chinese Show

27th March till 10th April - 7:00 PM And 9:00 PM International Chinese show on Ice Rink

March 2011

Emirates Traditional Exhibition - 24th March till 2nd April - Open Exhibition - Traditional cars, performances on stage, and workshops, Photography Contest & Exhibition - 10th April

Al Ain Mall LEGO workshop (charity)

24th March (Thursday) to 2nd April (Saturday) For all LEGO lovers and everyone interested in construction games and building creative objects out of bricks.

Spring Campaign

1st March (Tuesday) till 30th April (Saturday) Everybody is a winner in our “Scratch and Win” campaign, with a Nissan Patrol grand prize when spending 200 Dhs. At our outlets.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

1st March (Tuesday)- 5th (Saturday) 9 AM- 12 PM 6- 8 PM, Created to raise awareness about recycling, and to launch the mall’s new recycling bins inside/ outside the mall.

“Good Morning Al-Ain Mall”

Ladies program - 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th of March 2011 (weekly) - 5:30- 6:30, Ladies meet at a different coffee shop for coffee and breakfast, filled with demos, special guests, games, and gifts.

Hockey on Ice Practice U9

1St, 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th of March Al-Ain Vipers weekly practice

Fairytale Princess of Disney

3rd. 4th, 5th, of March - 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm The mall’s talented Ice skating students will be performing famous Disney characters with costumes and music.

Friday Bazaar 4th of March 5 – 10 PM A market to sell goods at discounted prices in contribution to the community. Ice Hockey tournament (U9)

March 11th (Friday) - 10 AM – 5 PM Tournament on our very own Al Ain mall ice rink.

OASISLIVING I 28

(Sunday) to 25th of April (Monday) Applying starts from the 1st of March on the mall’s website. Get involved to win valuable prizes.

Al Jimi Mall Friday Souq

4 April from 5:00 – 8:00PM - a flea market or swapmeet, a type of outdoor bazaar where inexpensive or secondhand goods are sold or bartered. For more information or application forms, please visit our website www.aljimimall.com or visit our information desk.

Shop and Win

23 February – 10 April – simply spend 150AED and enter a draw to win hundreds of valueable prizes. Seven raffle events at 8:00PM on the following days: 27.02; 6.03; 13.03; 20.03; 27.03; 3.04 and 10.04

Danat Al Ain Resort Arabesque Tuesday: Four Corners

The Middle East meets all corners of the world. A night designed to suit all tastes & bring together all the delicious dishes of the world. Every Tuesday at Arabesque for only AED140* per person including unlimited house beverages and soft drinks.

Wednesday: The Butchery

Roll up your sleeves and get ready to enjoy the best t-bones, tenderloins, prime cuts and a lot more. A night not to be missed every Wednesday at Arabesque for AED130* per person.

Thursday: Seafood Night

Dive into a sumptuous buffet of sea treasures. Enjoy an array of mussels, shrimps, oysters, fish and much much more. All this and more for only AED140* per person.

COVER CITY EVENTS STORY

The Horse & Jockey Pub

“BATTLE OF BRAINS”

Celebrate St. Patricks day on the 17th of March 2011 with H&J’s specials. Enjoy Quiz Night every Monday.

10th March Quiz competition for family (maximum participants-6).

Mother’s Day Specials - 21 March 2011

17th March (games and skilled activities).

Treat your mother with our very special Mother’s Day preparations at Tea Lounge and The Wok. Tea Lounge Specials: Enjoy High Tea from 12pm till 6pm

Hilton Al Ain On March 3rd, 2011:

Ladies program

Drawing competition

for Children (Senior and Junior category) 24th March

Quiz competition

for Children (Below 15 years) 31st March

The spectacular Fashion Show Pool Party returns. DJ Stew Magoo will play the hottest club tunes throughout the evening! And 8 different clothing brands will feature their spring collections.

Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet Hotel

On March 17th, 2011:

Lawrence’s Lounge Hotelier Night

This St. Patrick’s Day, we party like the Irish! Live performance by the Irish band, Licence to Ceilidh, and there will be an International DJ performance. Irish specialties will be available.

Paco’s Bar:

Rock with Mike Norfolk Band every night from 9 pm (except from Mondays). As a new feature DJ Adrian takes over after the live band every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Watch the biggest football matches from Champions League, Premier League and Primera Division. Quiz night on Mondays from 8.30 pm. Theme nights every night!

Flavours Restaurant:

Sundays - CHOPSTIX & BOWLS serve traditional Asian flavor with a touch of contemporary kitchen. Mondays AMERICAN HIGHWAY offers a wide selection of American cuisine. Tuesdays - MARINA BAY SEAFOOD NIGHT which lets you tuck in to a variety of the freshest catches of the day. Wednesdays - URBAN KITCHEN pampers your palates with international buffet selections from the interactive show kitchens. Thursdays - let you indulge in the ARABIAN SOUK where you can feast in a colorful and vibrant market of Arabian flavors.

Makani:

Indulge in the rich Arabic atmosphere with great food specialties, hubbly bubbly and live entertainment by new oud player Laith Haddad. For more information, please contact the Food and Beverage office at 03 706 7006.

Lulu Hypermarket Al Foah Mall “Family Fest”-Program schedule

3rd March (thursday) Arabic festival closing ceremony & Arabic cultural program & exhibition.

Every Sunday: 50% Discount on all beverages (Hotels ID to be present).

Ladies Night

Every Thursday: Ladies step in & get a complimentary cocktail.

Theme Nights at Le Belvedere Asian Night Every Wednesday Oriental Night Every Thursday B.B.Q Night Every Friday Sea Food Lunch Buffet Every Friday @ 12:30 PM – 04:00 PM

Live Pasta Station AT LE BELVEDERE Daily @ 12:30 PM – 15:30 PM

Enjoy Kids Meal

AT LE BELVEDERE Daily @ 12:30 PM – 15:30 PM & 19:30 PM TO 22:30 PM

B.B.Q Buffet

Every Friday @ 12:30 PM – 04:00 PM

Eden Rock Restaurant

(POOL SIDE) WITH LIVE ENTERTAINMENT B.B.Q. BUFFET - Every Friday @ 12:30 PM – 04:00 PM

Live Pasta & Grill

AT EDEN ROCK- Daily @ 12:30 PM – 04:00 PM

Al Khayma Tent

Enjoy the flavors of coffee and tobacco under the stars at the traditional Shisha Tent.

29 I OASISLIVING

FROM OUR READER

A Dibba

Dive Excursion By Catherine O’Connor

eafening quiet…the air hums with silence. Crickets sing to break the stillness not realizing that tonight they have an audience. Three walls – aged stone that carries untold years of history, haughtily ignore us as we set up camp. The inlet is invaded with air mattresses, pillows, fold-up chairs and blue plastic coolers. How many before us have found this refuge to rest their weary heads before continuing their journey? As foreigners, we dig in with gusto, with all the comforts of home, to “rough it” for one night. Light fades as our boat deposits us for the evening. Preparations are hastily made as dusk is on our doorstep. Headlamps and kerosene lanterns are lit to illuminate our brief living space. Tents are erected for some while others, like myself, are content to “be one with nature” by inflating an air mattress and adorning it with a large feather pillow! Ah, the comforts! The quiet...the noise. Raucous laughter bellows from the communal fire pit. An eerie light brightens one

OASISLIVING I 30

side of the mountain that stands alongside us. More and more of the harsh brutal stone is exposed until, from across the inlet, the most magnificent orb raises its features to brighten everything in its path. Never before has there been such a glorious lunar celebration. Entranced, for the moment, we are all as one…gazing…transfixed. Then hunger calls and coals are added to the fire. Every sound echoes and vibrates. Goats hide in fear at our noisy nostril growls. Sleep evades only momentarily. Suddenly it is 5am and the moon beckons my eyelids to open. Such beauty…such splendor! It is waving goodbye, this lunar friend of mine who has kept me company since arriving on these rocky shores. This astral lamp disappears and once-softened crags now jut menacingly, silhouetted against the black velvet of night. The stars dance and a recognition awakens within me. I know these stars. The big and little dippers of my home look back at me and I am comforted.

Lying on an air mattress in forty degree temperature, the heat is your blanket. Our boat disappears into the fog that has descended on the bay. As morning comes, tents, chairs and sleeping bodies are illuminated. People begin to stir and try to close their eyes again, to wring out the last vestiges of sleep. It will be another busy day. Memories of yesterday’s dive flicker through my barely awakened consciousness. Mere words cannot describe the fish in green, yellow, black, white, and the deepest velvet blue. The explosions of color make me breathless. The “ting, ting, ting, ting, ting” of an alarm clock echoes like Big Ben as the rocky walls bounce the noise back and forth like a Frisbee. I laugh at how utterly foreign we are to this environment. As the camp stirs and daylight is upon us, a small breeze touches my checks. I hear the lapping of the waves on shore as they say farewell and our boat materializes out of the mist. A new day has dawned.

Heat up your kitchen with spring’s top

color trends

itchen is the heart of the home: a place to cook and share a meal, to entertain friends, gather as a family and even pay bills or do homework.

and copper help create a cozy space reminiscent of the past and simpler times. For a new spin on a traditional rustic color scheme, Bean suggests pairing a deep, earthy hue with accents of cool pink.

Energizing your kitchen doesn’t take a major decor overhaul. Some strategically selected splashes of color in countertop appliances, cookware, dinnerware, candles, placemats and other linens can do the trick.

Bold expression: Exuding optimism, this palette creates a look that is both unconventional and energetic. Unique color mixes, such as intense purple combined with butterscotch and Capri blue, or sunny orange with dark red balanced against a soft neutral like champagne, create a space that’s eclectic, yet warm and welcoming. Bean recommends mixing patterns, textures and styles for a one-of-a-kind look.

Among this spring’s hottest colors, warm hues like tangerine and butterscotch are perfect for kitchens because they’re comforting and actually stimulate appetite. A lot of the fun comes in blending old favorites and new shades in fresh, innovative ways. Color palettes that are recommended for spring 2011 include: Rustic revival: Relaxed and informal, this palette is inspired by nature and features colors pulled from the outdoors. Shades such as basil, eggplant

become a much smaller place. This modern palette reflects the new global outlook with cookware and other accents in colors from other cultures, such as the calm oranges and yellows of India, the bright reds of the Far East, and the Capri blue of the Mediterranean. Bean suggests grounding these bright colors with black, white, silver or brushed stainless. In the final analysis, it’s all about doing what you like and surrounding yourself with the colors that make you happy. -ARA

Classic elegance: Evoking the look of 17th century Versailles, this color palette will give your kitchen a serene, elegant look. Traditional shades like lavender, turquoise, antique pink and bronze can be combined with touches of richer colors like peacock, charcoal and delicious red for a more contemporary look. World market: With the explosion of technology, the world has suddenly

31 I OASISLIVING

MONEY

Finanacial Planning

DANGER IN CYBERSPACE By Tony Ashton

here’s an old adage that goes, “Don’t believe everything that you read in the papers.” Nowadays however, perhaps it should be, “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.” Here are some of the most popular internet scams doing the rounds today:

The 419 scam

Most of you have received an email from a member of a Nigerian family with wealth. It is a desperate cry for help in getting a very large sum of money out of the country. There are numerous variations on this scam but, in every case, the scammer is promising obscenely large payments for small unskilled tasks. This scam, like most, is too good to be true, yet people still fall for it. They will use your emotions, and willingness to help, against you. They will promise you a large cut of their business or family fortune. All you are asked to do is cover the endless “legal” and other “fees” that must be paid to the people who can release the scammer’s money.

The pre-approved credit card/loan fee scam

If you are thinking about applying for a “pre-approved” loan or a credit card that charges an up-front fee, ask yourself: “Why would a bank do that?” These scams are obvious to people who take time to scrutinize the offer. Remember: reputable credit card companies do charge an annual fee, but it is applied to the balance of the card, never at the sign-up. Furthermore, if you legitimately clear your credit balance each month, a legitimate bank will often waive the annual fee.

OASISLIVING I 32

Lottery Scams

Most of us dream of hitting it big, quitting our jobs and retiring while still young enough to enjoy the fine things in life. Chances are you will receive at least one intriguing email from someone saying that you did indeed win a huge amount of money. The visions of a dream home, fabulous vacation, and other expensive goodies could make you forget that you never entered this lottery in the first place. This scam will usually come in the form of a conventional email message. It will inform you that you’ve won millions of dollars and congratulate you repeatedly. The catch: before you can collect your “winnings,” you must pay the “processing” fee of several thousands of dollars.

Phishing emails and phony web pages

This is the most widespread internet scam today. “Phishing” is where digital thieves lure you into divulging your password through persuasive emails and web pages. These phishing emails and web pages resemble legitimate credit authorities such as banks. They frighten or entice you into visiting a phony web page and entering your ID and password. Commonly, the guise is an urgent need to “confirm your identity.” They will even offer you a story of how your account has been attacked by hackers to lure you into entering your confidential information. The email message will require you to click on a link. But instead of leading you to the real login https: site, the link will secretly redirect you to a fake website. You then innocently enter your ID and password. This information is intercepted by the

scammers, who later access your account and fleece you for several hundred dollars. Tip: the beginning of the link address should have https://. Phishing fakes will just have http:// (no “s”). If still in doubt, make a phone call to the financial institution to verify if the email is legitimate. In the meantime, if an email seems suspicious to you, do not trust it.

Items for sale overpayment scam

This one involves an expensive item you’ve listed for sale, such as a car. The scammer finds your ad and sends you an email offering to pay more than your asking price. The reason for overpayment is supposedly related to international shipping fees. In return, you are to send him the car and the cash for the difference. The money order you receive looks real so you deposit it into your account. In a couple of days, your bank informs you that the money order was fake and demands you pay that amount back immediately. In most versions of this scam, the money order was indeed an authentic document, but it was never authorized by the bank (it was stolen). In the case of cashier’s checks, it is usually a convincing forgery. You have now lost the car, the cash you sent with the car, and you owe a hefty sum to your bank to cover the bad money order or fake cashier’s check.

Employment search overpayment scam

You have posted your resume, with at least some personal data accessible to potential employers, on

Embarrassing Bodily Functions HEALTH

a legitimate employment site. You receive a job offer to become a “financial representative” of an overseas company you have never heard of. The reason they want to hire you is that this company has problems accepting money from US customers and they need you to handle these payments. If you apply, you will provide the scammer with your personal data, such as bank account information, so you can “get paid.” Instead, you may experience identity theft and/or money stolen from your account

Travel Scam

These scams are most active during the summer months. You receive an email with the offer to get amazingly low fares to some exotic destination, but you must book immediately. If you call, you’ll find out the travel is free but the hotel rates are highly overpriced. Some can offer you rock-bottom prices but hide certain high fees until you “sign on the dotted line.” Others, in order to give you the “free” something, will make you sit through a timeshare pitch at the destination. Still others can just take your money and deliver nothing. Your best strategy is to book your trip in person, through a reputable travel agency or legitimate online service like Travelocity or Expedia.

Disaster relief scam

What do earthquakes, tsunamis and hurricanes have in common? These are all disasters, tragic events where people die, lose their loved ones, or everything they have. In times like these, good people pull together to help the survivors any way they can, including online donations. Scammers set up fake charity websites and steal the money donated to the victims of disasters. If your request for donation comes via email, there is a chance of it being a phishing attempt. Do not click on the link in the email and volunteer your bank account or credit card information. Your best bet is to contact a recognized charitable organization directly.

50 Dhs including 1 beverage

Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, then it usually is.

29 I OASISLIVING

INTEREST

The Dawn of History Revealing the Ancient Past of Abu Dhabi

he Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), in collaboration with Danish-based Moesgård Museum, have unveiled an exhibition titled ‘The Dawn of History’ that will give history enthusiasts an insight into the findings in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi dating back ten thousand years. The exhibition runs through until May 2nd, 2011 at the Al Jahili Fort, Al Ain. The findings on display were excavated by Danish archeologists between 1958 and 1972, upon the invitation of the then rulers Sheikh Shakbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (may their souls rest in peace). Both rulers felt that the history of Abu Dhabi had to be unearthed to tell the story of their forefathers. The team of Danish

OASISLIVING I 34

archeologists who undertook this project include : Karen Frifelt, Geoffrey Bibby and P.V. Glob. Personal items belonging to the Danish team such as passports, letters and wallets from their time spent in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, form a part of the exceptional collection at the exhibition. A walk around the ultra modern museum gave me a glimpse into the livelihoods of the early Emirati people, and the tools used within the Iron Age. A number of their significant discoveries range in area from Umm an- Nar, the Hafit graves, Hili Grand Tomb, Hili Tower and Qarn bint Saud. Interestingly enough, the civilization was named ‘Umm an- Nar after the island proved valuable for archeological findings. Furthermore, the late Sheikh Zayed

RECAP INTEREST

bin Sultan Al Nahyan (may his soul rest in peace) directed the Danish archeologists to the Hili Grand Tomb in 1962. The Sheikh knew how important this site was and that it warranted in-depth research by the archeologists. Currently, the Hili Tomb stands as a symbol of Abu Dhabiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s archeological culture. For anyone wanting to discover the history of Abu Dhabi in a modern atmosphere, this is the place to venture for a family outing, or just on your own.

35 I OASISLIVING

GOING PLACES Experiencing Jordan

Experiencing

Jordan Part 2

By Julie Madgwick

ast month, I wrote about my travels through Jordan. Jordan is not easy to capture in one article so here is part two of the journey, from Mount Nebo to Petra. We were impatient to get to Petra, the highlight of our trip. We discovered that there were plenty of other places to explore on the way, including Mt Nebo, where itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s believed that Moses is buried. The view was spectacular: the Dead Sea, over to Palestine, and the scorched landscapes where the Bedouin live in makeshift camps. Walking in the footsteps of biblical history is a spiritual journey, and we saw people who had come to Mount Nebo to worship. Made with tiny pieces of stone, cut just right, the mosaics at Mt Nebo told the stories of that time. Leaving Mt Nebo, I felt that the history of this place would be kept safe for my grandchildren to enjoy. From Mt Nebo, we journeyed to Madaba and visited the Greek Orthodox Church of St George. It was built on the site of a Byzantine church and is home to a 6thcentury mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. This partially restored, ancient mosaic depicts the topography and villages of that time. Mosaic makers still produce works of art using this ancient craft; as I watched a young man delicately crafting a piece to fit, I could see that this skill had not been lost. The countryside in Jordan is mostly dry, with sparse vegetation. The journey south on the Kingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Highway showed more diversity, however. The winding road took us to the

OASISLIVING I 36

Experiencing Jordan GOING PLACES

We were excited to arrive at Petra and set off as soon as possible to do some exploring. Petra, built in the 6th century BCE, was the Nabataeans’ capital city and an important trade route. The Nabataeans were an ancient Arabic tribe that settled in northwestern Arabia before coming to Petra.

panoramic view over the Wadi Mujib and the Mujib Dam, known as Jordan’s miniature Grand Canyon. The view was breathtaking. Looking down into the wadi, it was easy to imagine large amounts of water carving out this landscape. We drove into the setting sun, past the outcrops littering the Jordanian side of Rub al Khali, the desert that covers a large part of the Arabian Peninsula. We spent the night in a desert camp, enjoying traditional dances and waking at dawn to watch the sunrise over Wadi Ramm. We explored the area with the help of a local guide, seeing ancient rock drawings of a camel hunt and the bust of Lawrence of Arabia carved alongside the local Bedouin chief he befriended. The place where he met with his Bedouin friends was nestled among the rocks, and it was easy to imagine him sitting there, taking tea. The rising sun dancing off the pink, rocky outcrops showed the natural beauty of this place. Our guide was on holiday from university and told us that he never tired of meeting people and showing them his beautiful home. We were excited to arrive at Petra and set off as soon as possible to do some exploring. Petra, built in the 6th century BCE, was the Nabataeans’ capital city and an important trade route. The

Nabataeans were an ancient Arabic tribe that settled in northwestern Arabia before coming to Petra. They controlled the trade of frankincense, myrrh and the spices and silks prized by the west. As I reviewed my photos for this story, I was taken back to the peaceful beauty that awaited us as we wandered the well-trodden paths of the Nabataeans. I had read in the local newspaper that Petra was overrun with tourists and was being spoiled by the pressure this put on the environment. When wandering in the most well-traveled areas, I could see this. There were a lot of people, some in large groups, some local; all were being accosted by donkey drovers and postcard and jewelry sellers. We found a peaceful beauty in the hills toward the High Place of Sacrifice, the Roman Tombs and Garden Temple complex. It was a long walk but worthwhile, as it showed us the vastness of the land and the extensive settlements that had once housed the Nabataeans. Our guide explained that it was easy to tell the difference between the Nabataean parts of Petra and the Roman settlements: the Nabataeans carved and the Romans built. Al Khazneh, or “the treasury,” is carved into the pink rock. It’s stunning as it appears through the narrow walls of the canyon. Al Khazneh was carved in the 1st century BCE as the tomb

37 I OASISLIVING

GOING PLACES

of a Nabataean king and is thought to have become a temple. The detailed carvings are a testament to the skill of the Nabataeans. Our guide shared with us how the carvings were linked to the calendar and told the history of this people. Despite my better judgment, Sue and I rode up to Petra on donkeys. This was an exciting, and not very comfortable, ride as these surefooted beasts clattered up the hill past those foolish enough to walk the 800+ steps. We walked the last few meters to Ad Deir, the monastery. It was well worth the donkey ride as we sat and took tea looking out towards this magnificent building carved into the rock face. The intricate carving has withstood centuries of weather, as it is exposed to the elements high in the hills. Ad Deir was thought to be an important pilgrimage site with the pilgrims climbing in procession and gathering in the open space in front. With the huge facades of Ad Deir, I was expecting the inside to be

OASISLIVING I 38

Experiencing Jordan GOING PLACES

We spent the night in a desert camp, enjoying traditional dances and waking at dawn to watch the sunrise over Wadi Ramm. cavernous, but this wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the case. Beyond Ad Deir, there is a spectacular view over the jumble of hills and rocky outcrops that make up this land. We could see how far weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d climbed as we looked over the sheer drop into the wadi below. Petra was a wonderful place to explore, despite the press of people and never-ending commerce. We made two trips, the first a late-afternoon wander around key sights, and the second a day of wandering along more obscure paths. Our final night was spent in Aqaba on the coast. It was dark when we arrived. We were footsore and tired from our exploration of Petra, an unforgettable place. Although I saw most of what tourists come to see, I am keen to revisit Jordan to explore further and to hear more stories about this enchanting place. 1- View of The Monastery from inside a cave. Petra 2- Dead sea with waves 3- Wadi Rum desert 4- Stone door of the Moses grave with a Jordanian desert valley in the Back Bethany 5- Road to Treasury Temple at Petra (Al Khazneh) between mountains

39 I OASISLIVING

HERITAGE Arabic Calligraphy

Learn a thing or two about

Arabic Calligraphy

By Reem Al Mansouri

Arabic calligraphy is a well known art. When I see Arabic calligraphy, I instantly remember Mohammed Al Mandi, one of the most talented calligraphers in the Middle East. His designs can be found in bank notes and passports in the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar. He’s also had foreign exhibitions in Paris, Italy and Jordan. There are different kinds of scripts in Arabic calligraphy. The main ones are:

The Kufic Script

The Naskh Script

A heavy monumental script suited to stone carving, it appears in the earliest surviving Koran manuscripts.

Naskh, which means “copying,” was developed in the 10th century and refined into a fine art form in Turkey in the 16th century.

OASISLIVING I 40

Arabic Calligraphy HERITAGE

The Thuluth Script

The Ta’liq/Nasta’liq/Farsi Script

The Riq’a Script

The Diwani Script

Thuluth (“one third”) was the medieval Islamic style of handwritten alphabet. It is written on the principle that one third of each letter slopes. It is a large, elegant, cursive script.

Designed specifically to meet the needs of the Persian language, it’s traditionally considered the most elegant of Persian scripts.

Riq’a, the simple style of everyday writing, is very economical and easy to write. It is popular for both Turkish and Arabic.

This is a cursive style of Arabic calligraphy developed during the reign of the early Ottoman Turks

Nowadays, you can see Arabic calligraphy in home décor, drinkware, clothes and henna designs. Even Angelina Jolie has a tattoo that features an Arabic word. 41 I OASISLIVING

FEATURE

Winner Takes All

Castor Fantoba triumphed in the 2011 Desert Challenge Aerobatic Competition which was the central event at the Al Ain Aerobatic Show. Castor had an overall score of 70.85 percent, just 1.8 percent ahead of second place Gerald Cooper. The Federation Aeronatique Internationale organized the competition, which brought together the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top pilots. Oasis Living talked to both pilots.

OASISLIVING I 42

Winner Takes All

Cástor Fantoba

45, Europe’s number 2 in Freestyle

FEATURE

Cástor Fantoba,

Cástor has a lot to smile about after winning the 2011 Desert Challenge. This Spaniard from Pamplona was flying a Sukhoi 26, a single-seater powered by a single radial engine. The plane was designed in the late-80s and, though it’s not the latest model, one of its great strengths is it’s power and G-threshold. As Cástor sees it, “Even today, you can still do much more with this plane than some of the newer models.” Prior to the Desert Challenge, Cástor undertook two months of preparation. It involved physical exercise, weights, boxing, a high protein & carbohydrate diet, and flight training. His ultimate goal is to “be the best one can: fly better than yesterday and train to be stronger for tomorrow.” Cástor’s aeronautical career began fifteen years ago. In addition to being an Aeronautical Engineer, he is an airline captain and a certified flight instructor, and member of the Spanish National Aerobatic Team. Regarding his victory, Cástor confesses that it was not easy. Being his first time in the competition, it was all hard work, “The other competitors are very talented, and amongst the best you can find.” The news that he had won came as a surprise, “I had no communication with the organization and was very unexpected, and all of a sudden people around me were congratulating me!” On a last note, his message for all of those having aspirations: “Fight for your dreams. If you truly want something, you will give 100 percent to achieve it. There is great satisfaction in every step you progress towards a personal and professional goal.”

Fight for your dreams. If you truly want something, you will give 100 percent to achieve it. There is great satisfaction in every step you progress towards a personal and professional goal.

43 I OASISLIVING

FEATURE

Winner takes all

Gerald Cooper 39, World Rank−7th

Gerald Cooper has over two decades of experience in the field of flying. With a style that is both aggressive and highly accurate, his aerobatic displays are always distinctive, innovative and hugely popular with audiences. He flies a CAP 232 aircraft with a roll rate in excess of 420 degrees per second combined with a climb rate of 3,300 feet per minute. According to Gerald, this year’s competition was well executed and attracted a lot of diverse teams, “The competition is definitely progressing.” His peeve about working in the aeronautical field is that it’s financially and physically draining, “You spend lots of time in the air and you have got to be financially stable to undertake some of the tasks.” One of the great lessons he learned during this year’s competition is the need to connect with fans, “Just coming out and greeting fans taught me a lot. It means something to them, and it was a humbling experience for me.”

Just coming out and greeting fans taught me a lot. It means something to them, and it was a humbling experience for me.

Gerald Cooper,

OASISLIVING I 44

For the Love of Pasta FOOD

At one point or another youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve probably tried pastaâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;ever wondered about its origins? The origins of pasta have been disputed, with various countries claiming ownership. However, most agree that it originated in China 4,000 years ago with noodles made of foxtail and broomcorn millet. Nonetheless, Italy is now more closely associated with pasta. Take some time and sample the following pasta dishes in the comfort of your own home

For the Love of Pasta

Chicken Pasta Heaven

Pasta Cake

Baked Ravioli

Pasta with Porcini 45 I OASISLIVING

FOOD For the Love of Pasta

Pasta Cake Ingredients: • Unsalted butter, for pan • Coarse salt • 150 grams of ziti pasta • 1 roasted red pepper, stemmed, seeded and coarsely chopped • 1 16-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed & squeezed dry • 1½ cups ricotta cheese

• • • • • • •

3 large eggs, lightly beaten 2 basil leaves, torn 1/2 cup freshly grated pecorino cheese 1 clove garlic, minced 1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper 2 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan

Method: Preheat oven to 325º. Generously butter 8-inch spring form pan; set aside. Bring large pot of water to boil; add salt and pasta. Cook pasta until almost ready. Drain, rinse under cold running water, drain again. Transfer to large bowl, stir in red pepper and spinach; set aside. In another large bowl, stir to combine ricotta, eggs, basil, pecorino, garlic and nutmeg; season with 1-teaspoon salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl with pasta, gently stir. Transfer to prepared pan. Smooth top, sprinkle with parmesan. Bake until firm to the touch and the top is golden brown, 40-50 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before unmolding, and serve warm or at room temperature.

Pasta with Porcini Ingredients: • 150 grams fresh or dried egg pasta • Extra virgin olive oil • 1 garlic clove • 1 bay leaf

• • • •

Half a cup of porcini, thinly sliced Knob of butter 2-3 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley Black pepper

Method: Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook until ready. Meanwhile, heat a film of olive oil in a large, heavy frying pan. Add garlic and bay leaf, fry briefly over medium heat until the garlic starts to brown. Remove from the pan. Throw in the porcini and fry quickly over medium-high heat, tossing and turning until they are tender and have released their juices. Season with salt and a good grinding of black pepper. Add butter then stir until bubbling. Drain pasta and add to pan; sprinkle with a dusting of parsley and serve at once.

OASISLIVING I 46

Chicken Pasta Heaven Ingredients: • 1 aubergine, roughly chopped • 2 leeks, sliced • 2 red onions peeled, quartered • 4 tablespoons olive oil • 1 red peppers, deseeded and roughly chopped • 3 tomatoes, quartered • 1 sprig of fresh rosemary, thyme or sage

• • • • • •

150 grams of kilogram penne 1-1/2 tablespoons of butter 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed 150 g mascarpone 60 g cooked chicken strips

Method: Preheat oven to 200º. Place aubergine, leeks and red onions into a large roasting tray and drizzle with two tablespoons olive oil. Mix well to coat, then roast for 15 minutes. Add peppers, tomatoes and herbs to the roasting tin, mix well, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add another tablespoon of olive oil if mixture looks a little dry. Return trays to the oven for a further 15 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and starting to caramelize around the edges. Meanwhile, bring a large pan of water to boil. Add pasta and cook for 10-12 minutes. Drain pasta and return to the pan. Stir in butter and toss well to coat. In a small bowl, mix parsley, the remaining olive oil, and garlic. Remove roasted vegetables from the oven and tip them into the pan with the pasta, then add the cooked chicken strips. Drizzle over the parsley, olive oil and garlic sauce, mixing well. Stir in mascarpone until pasta is coated and the sauce is creamy and smooth. Pile into pasta bowls and serve immediately.

Baked Ravioli Ingredients: • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 1 medium onion, chopped • 3 garlic cloves, minced • Coarse salt and ground pepper • 1½ teaspoons dried thyme or oregano

• • • • •

Half a cup of whole tomatoes Quarter a cup of crushed tomatoes 150 grams ravioli ½ cups of shredded mozzarella ½ cup grated parmesan

Method: Preheat oven to 425º. Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add thyme and tomatoes. Bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer 20-25 minutes, breaking up tomatoes with spoon until sauce is thickened and reduced to about 2½ cups. Meanwhile, cook ravioli in large pot of boiling salted water until pasta floats to the surface. Drain pasta; return to pot. Toss sauce with pasta. Pour pasta into large gratin dish or 9”x13” baking dish, and sprinkle with cheeses. Bake until golden, 20-25 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.

Hearsay HOME LIVING

Tips heard & tested By Toni Noble

Tea Bags Tried: You wake up one morning and find that you have got the biggest cold sore every stuck to your lip…what to do. Tested: This experiment was tested by a work colleague who so happened to wake up with the cold sore. Get a warm tea bag and hold it on the effected area for at least 30 minutes. Verdict: Mmmm… it just seem to have made the cold sore larger than ever. It was only tested for one day,. Whether the cold sore would get smaller after a few days I couldn’t tell you. My work colleague was not going to risk it.

Ginger/Honey Tried: Try this experiment if you have had a dry cough for several days. Tested: I had yet another work colleague try this experiment for me as she had a really dry cough. Put a teaspoon of powdered ginger and a teaspoon of honey into a cup/glass, add some hot water, and give it a good stir to make sure that the ginger has dissolved. Verdict: Ginger and honey together did not work, but honey on its own did with hot water.

Moroccan Oil Tried: Fed up with having bad hair, well try using Moroccan oil. Tested: I have been using this product for about 6 months. Wash hair as normal, then towel dry. Put a pea-size amount into the palm of your hand and rub together, then rub your hands through your hair and dry and style as normal. I also noticed that your hair dries quicker. Verdict: AMAZING, love it. Thank you to my daughter for recommending it to me. My hair has never been so soft and manageable. I have myself recommended the oil to a friend and it is a huge success.

White Vinegar Tried: Sugar Ants can be a nuisance when you are trying to cook a meal on your kitchen work top. Tested: Try soaking some white vinegar onto a clean dish cloth and wipe down your work tops and all edges. Verdict: This works really well. The only downside is that your kitchen smells of vinegar for awhile.

47 I OASISLIVING

FEATURE

Getting It Done in Sanaiya

Getting It Done in Sanaiya By David Garvey

hen I first arrived in Al Ain in 2008, I wound up living at the northern edge of the Central District. I often ventured into the town square on foot, exploring the side streets and looking into shops. However, I never ventured past that sign that read “Sanaiya.” Commuting to Falaj Hazaa every day, I would drive past uniquely angled rocks that jutted out behind the shops at the roundabout and wonder what others things were hidden down those streets. However, my time in Al Ain would be

OASISLIVING I 48

short, and I ended up leaving without really exploring the area, so when I returned in 2010 I decided to visit Sanaiya. Located west of the Central District, the area begins at Al Ain Street, opposite from Etisalat and Oasis Hospital. From there, the city’s most centrally-located Lulu marks the beginning of a long stretch of shops that continues toward the angled rocks behind Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Awwal Street. As one can see from a casual glance, Sanaiya is different from the rest of

Getting It Done in Sanaiya

Al Ain. Whereas much of the city’s businesses are spread out in long strips, or in the malls, Sanaiya is an area dense with shops and services. There isn’t much, if any, housing in and amongst the businesses. Unlike the Central District, once you get into Sanaiya, it’s a line-up of uninterrupted shops that looks like a little village, separate from the rest of the citya bustling, compact village filled with busy shops and busy people working into the night. When I asked other long-time residents what they thought about Sanaiya, they all responded with roughly the same thing: It’s the place where you go to get things done. If you need a tool, a household item, or some little part, you can find it there. But even better, you can do it quickly. Without heading to a big store inside one of the malls, Sanaiya is where most any item can be found quickly and for a good price. With so many specialty shops, it can be easier to get exactly what you’re looking for. If you need something welded, they have metal workshops. If you’re looking for agricultural products, you can find them as well. Can you find textiles and tailors? Yes indeed. How about getting a key made? No problem. The most obvious specialty here is cars. New cars, used cars, sport cars, or car repairs. If you’re looking for anything car-related, you’ll find it in Sanaiya. Big bright signs light the streets at night, advertising car dealerships that include posh European manufacturers like Porsche and Mercedes, American brands Chevrolet and Ford, Nissan and Toyota from Japan, and Kia and Hyundai from South Korea. The number of garages and part shops is almost endless. Heading along 10th street, through the centre of the district, almost every shop provides some car-related service. So whether

it’s a mechanical repair, or bodywork, or if you’re just looking for something special (like getting your windows decked out for National Day), there’s a shop for every vehicular need. Then there are the tire shops (or tyre, if you prefer). Along Al Ain Street and through the maze in the heart of the district, tire shops seem to outnumber all others. With so many shops working on tires, for all kinds of vehicles (including those really big tractor tires that I saw several people standing on), you won’t have to wait long to get the work done. But it’s not just about garages and tire shops. There are a plethora of furniture stores and home decoration shops. And even a few cushion shops, where they will custom-make your cushions. If you’re looking to buy a tent of any size, you can find it here. Sanaiya is also home to several large gift markets, located directly below their particular bright, flashy signs. Reefah Gift Market is one of the city’s landmarks. My wife’s kindergarten students even took a field trip there. Gift City is in the middle of 10th Street. Al Ain Gift Market is down the road from Lulu, as well as Happy Bazaar and Hira Bazaar. If all the shopping and business starts to wear you out, there’s no shortage of places to take a break. There are many little cafés, teashops and cafeterias. In the area south of Al Ain Street, you’ll find no shortage of Abdul Aziz cafeterias. I counted at least 5. In much the same way that I got to know the Central District during my first time here, I feel that the best method for really discovering an area is on foot. Taking the time to look into the shops and see the people is, for me, always more telling than going past quickly in a car. Even though I had to drive to Sanaiya,

FEATURE

once I got there I decided to park and just walk up the main strip to get to know the area a little better. What I found, perhaps not surprisingly,

The number of garages and part shops is almost endless. Heading along 10th street, through the centre of the district, almost every shop provides some car related service. is that it’s better to stay in your car. Sanaiya is not really an ideal place for an evening stroll. Whereas in the Central District I found it possible to navigate a safe path away from the cars and use the underground walkways (the confusingly-named “subways”), the busyness of Sanaiya doesn’t really allow for it. There are people out on the street, many in fact, but they know what they’re doing, and they know where they’re going. As for the wide-eyed guy having a look-see, you’ve got to stay alertthere are cars everywhere! I guess that’s why I didn’t see anyone else browsing in shop windows. No, Sanaiya is the place where you go to get things done. Whatever kind of shop or service you’re looking for, you’ll likely find it, provided it isn’t a ladies salon or a dress shop. But I know where I’m going if I ever want a cushion made.

49 I OASISLIVING

REVIEW Tried & Tasted - Lulu Hypermarket, Al Foah

Tried & Tasted

Lulu Hypermarket Al Foah By David Garvey

hen the schedule gets hectic, it can be difficult to plan and prepare a good meal. At times like these, it can be tempting to go for quick, but less-healthy, fast food as an easy solution. But don’t line up at the drive-thru just yet. At the massive new Lulu Hypermarket in the Al Foah Mall, there are new options for people who would like to have a fresh, hot meal that’s ready to

go. Designed for shoppers on the go, the new endeavor can be described as restaurant food at supermarket prices. At the back of the store is a Hot Food counter with several different sections, each specializing in a particular ethnic cuisine. There are 3 in-store chefs who oversee the various and changing menu, which features Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Arabic and Italian dishes. There’s something for everyone.

Most dishes are sold at a price per kg, but some entrées, such as the large portion of Beef Lasagna, are sold at a quite-reasonable 9.50 AED per piece. For those on a budget, food can also be ordered by the dirham, such as 10 dirhams worth of Dal Fry. They also have a Pizza section, with pre-made and made-to-order Pizzas that can be cooked in the store in only 6 minutes.

OASISLIVING I 50

A variety of cooked and chilled Chinese and Filipino dishes can be taken home that way or heated in the store. Others, such as the daily special, are hot and can be packaged and taken to eat straightaway. The hot meal choices include Chicken Biryani, Tikka Masala, Beef Couscous, Spicy Chicken and, of course, Shawarma.

Tried & Tasted - Lulu Hypermarket, Al Foah REVIEW

This is ideal for that quick stop on the way home. You can choose a Pizza, have it cooked while you grab a few items, then get your hot Pizza on the way out. Another feature is the selection of sauced and prepared raw meats and fish. Taking them as they are would be ideal for a cookout, but they can also be grilled right in the store. Having something grilled in the store takes a little longer than the Pizza (around 30 minutes), but it’s still done in plenty of time to finish a bit of shopping and leave with a hot meal.

On my visit, I was provided with a meal big enough for 4 people. We had the day’s specials—Chili Chicken, Beef Lasagna, Hammour and a Mixed Grill. We also had the Gobi Mutter and Peas Pulao from the Indian section, which was great for the vegetarian eating with us. The food came in large take-away containers that were wrapped and bagged, and even after a fifteen-minute drive all the food was still hot. I had expected we would need to warm up the food, but this wasn’t necessary. The grilled Hammour was the hit of the night. The marinade provided a subtle spice and the fish was tender and succulent, with a nice crispiness on the outside. We had 3 large pieces to share and everyone had an ample portion. The Indian Rice and Curry served as nice sides to the Fish. The Mixed Grill meats were chunky and moist, and the Lamb Kofta was similar in taste to a good burger. After a thorough feast, there was still some of the sides left over, but the Fish and Mixed Grill were long gone. What the Lulu Hot Food Counter provides is quality and convenience. Our food was plentiful for the price, and the friendly staff can get you on

your way quickly. That’s just the sort of thing a busy person can appreciate at the end of day, whether it’s a quick meal for one, a hot fresh Pizza, or a meal for the whole family. The food is fresh and ready all day long, with dishes changing throughout the day, so it could be just the solution for an easy lunch as well. The store can also provide catering and party orders for any size. Judging by how easy it was to select and prepare this meal for four, they would surely make the task of preparing enough food for a large get-together much simpler and

quicker. The store also provides a selection of Indian Sweets that are prepared fresh daily. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Broasted Chicken Grilled Chicken Chilli Chicken Beef Lasagne Peas Pulao Chicken Tika Gulab Jaman

51 I OASISLIVING

HAVE A CUPPA with Percy Chang

Sponserd by

Have A Cuppa with Percy Chang

Job: Publishing Director, Oasis Living Magazine Nationality: Taiwanese Languages Spoken: English and Mandarin Years in Al Ain: 5

Disclaimer: This interview was given at the interviewer’s request after much prompting and cajoling. The interviewer thought Oasis Living readers would enjoy learning more about the woman behind the magazine. What better subject for the March motherhood issue?

What made you decide to start Oasis Living? I truly love Al Ain. There’s so much in Al Ain that people don’t know about. The magazine is not just for expats. It connects people. I feel like it was divine intervention. How long was it between coming up with the idea for the magazine and the release of the first issue? 3-4 months. What did you do before becoming Publishing Director of Oasis Living? I was Publications Manager at a British education provider. If you could do any job (except for your current one) what would it be and why? Dolphin trainer. There’s no clear reason. I just like dolphins. I actually applied for a volunteer position when I lived in Honolulu. They accepted me to train monk seals instead. You know, the ones that make that loud noise. I said no thank you. What job would you never want to do and why? A nurse or doctor because I’m scared of blood, injections, open wounds... Where else have you lived? Taipei, Honolulu, San Francisco, Sweden and London. What was your favorite place to live and why? Hawaii. The island lifestyle matched my own nature: slow-paced. It’s a paradise, so beautiful.

OASISLIVING I 52

Tell me about your family. I know you’ve just had a new baby. My husband and I met in university in Hawaii. He works for one of the hotels in Al Ain. We have three children (ages 7, 4 and 5 weeks). I know you’re from Taiwan and your husband is from Sweden, but you live in the UAE. How do your kids identify themselves? Do they have dual citizenship? They can have dual citizenship, but we have to apply for it. When my daughter is asked, she says it’s a big story and then she explains. You’ve recently had a book published. Tell me about that. The book is called A World Without Borders, published in Mandarin in Taiwan. It’s a story about parenting and the experience of living in different cultures. There’s a lot of photographs. It’s nonfiction. Are there any plans to have it translated into English? Perhaps! It has to be decided by my publisher in Taiwan. What do you like best about Al Ain? Different lessons that you can learn every day. Life in most places where I visited or lived was quite expected, but here each day there’s something different. What’s one of your favorite restaurants in Al Ain? Flavours in the Hilton. There’s always something I like and the staff are great.

If you could live somewhere other than the UAE, where would it be & why? Kyoto. I’ve never been there. I know Kyoto is full of heritage and culture according to my Japanese friends. I just like places with histories. What’s the most exotic place you’ve visited? Langkawi, Malaysia. There were more monkeys than people all over. What do you do in your free time? For the little free time I have, I idle–clear my mind and rest. How do you manage to do it all: a fast-paced career, marriage and children? I don’t know. I feel like I get spiritual strength from God. What’s one of your secret indulgences or guilty pleasures? Karaoke. I have my own machine. Tell me something about yourself that would surprise your friends. I won 2nd place in a model pageant when I was 16. What book are you currently reading? The Fruit of Her Hands by Nancy Wilson. What’s the last CD you listened to? The Sound of Music. If you could be any animal, what would you be and why? Zebra. Those are my favorite colors. It’s like a designer horse.

Palm Court Café in Hilton Hotel is famous for desserts and Vienna's Julius Meinl coffee.

Environment

Our Earth - ‫أرضنــــا‬

Our Earth ‫أرضنــــا‬

e have all heard a teacher or guardian at one time or another tell us that one person can change the world, and that one person can be us. Most of us say ‘yeah, yeah’ and forget about it quickly, but 13-year-olds Awad Alsaidi and Abdallah Dahce decided to follow through. “In one of my classes we were told that all kids can change the world and we should start our own clubs. So I talked to my best friends Abdullah and Mohammed and we simply did it.” Awad and Abdallah started the Green Eco Club, a club for kids and young adults who want to show that they care about the environment in a hands-on way.

OASISLIVING I 54

‫كلنا قد سمع األهل أو المدرسين يتحدثون من وقت آلخر عن إنسان‬ ‫ و هذا الشخص من الممكن أن‬،‫ما استطاع أن يغير مجرى العالم‬ ، ‫ الكثير منا يقولون أنهم يستطيعون ذلك‬، ‫يكون واحدًا منا‬ ‫ أما عوض الصايدي وعبداهلل‬.‫ولكنهم ينسون قولهم سريعًا‬ ‫ أرادا‬، ‫الداهسي الذين لم تتجاوز اعمارهم الثالثة عشر عامًا‬ ‫ لذلك توجها الىرفاقهم المقربين في الصف‬، ‫المتابعة في هذا‬ ‫ مثل عبداهلل ومحمد وبشكل بسيط قاموا بإنشاء نادي سموه‬، .)‫(نادي البيئة الخضراء‬ ‫وهو لألطفال والشباب اليافعين الذين يهتمون بالطبيعة‬ .‫بشكل فعلي عن طريق العمل وليس فقط بالكالم‬

Our Earth - ‫ أرضنــــا‬Environment

They both felt that the biggest issues right now that the club needs to focus on in Al Ain are litter and increasing recycling awareness. The litter is not just in the city either, “People who go camping in the desert often don’t take their trash back with them. They not only ruin the camping experience for people who come after them, they also ruin the nature.” The Green Eco Club has already done clean-up weekends in a number of neighbourhoods in Al Ain as well as in the desert and they are starting plans on a recycling campaign, believing that the city needs more recycling bins. They want to begin with fliers, and eventually hold lectures at halls, “We want to educate kids our age about how long it takes for some of their trash to degrade. Personally, I try never to use plastic [bottles]. If I do, I try to reuse them, make containers out of them, pencil holders etc. If a bag is not recyclable I try to carry things in my hands. One bag can take 1,000 years to biodegrade.” What the Green Eco Club needs right now is support, and not necessarily material support, “We need space to hold lectures and we need environmental companies to provide information and possibly manual help.” With the help of his dad, who is behind the club 100%, they have already spoken with an environmental company about any help and support they may be able to provide and will also be approaching the municipality. Awad says that in the future the club will try get support money for specific issues from public and government entities, “We want to help provide a piece of the rain forest or find other, major projects to campaign for. This work, we can’t take money for it. It is work that everyone should do.” At this point the club has approximately 30 members, all from Awad’s school. However, they want to make it open to all schools and find a spot to hold regular meetings with larger groups of kids because of the club’s importance. “If the earth is destroyed, where do we go? Do we have another home?” If you want more information about the Green Eco Club you can contact Awad Alsaidi at: awadalsaidi@yahoo.com

‫يرى عوض وعبداهلل أن أهم شيء يجب التركيز عليه هو القمامة‬ ‫ فهي‬، ‫في مدينة العين عن طريق زيادة الوعي حول عملية تكريرها‬ ‫ بل في الصحراءايضًا‬، ‫التقتصر على النفايات الموجودة في المدينة‬ ‫ يقومون بترك‬،‫ فكثير من األشخاص الذين يخرجون للتخييم هناك‬، ‫ وال يعيدونها‬، ‫نفاياتهم وال يضعونها في األماكن اﻟﻤﺨصصة لها‬ ‫ فال تعد تلك المناطق صالحة للتخييم فيما بعدكما أنها‬، ‫معهم‬ . ‫تؤدي الى تدمير البيئة أيضًا‬ ‫ في إحدى عطل نهاية اإلسبوع بتنظيف‬، ‫لقد قام النادي األخضر‬ ، ‫بعض األحياء في مدينة العين وبعض مناطق التخييم الصحراوية‬ ‫إن ما تحتاج إليه مدينة العين ليس فقط زيادة عدد حاويات المواد‬ ‫ ولكن بحاجة الى عقد إجتماعات‬، ‫التي يمكن إعادة تصنيعها فحسب‬ . ‫وتوزيع منشورات خاصة لحل هذه المشكلة‬ ‫فهناك بعض أنواع للقمامة تحتاج الى وقت طويل جدًا كي تتحلل‬ ‫ فأنا وبشكل‬، ‫وهذا مايجب علينا تعليمه لألوالد واليافعين من عمرنا‬ ‫ وأما إذا اضطررت لذلك‬، ‫شخصي ال أستعمل العلب البالستيكية‬ ‫فاستخدمها كوعاء بالستيكي لوضع أقالم الرصاص فيه وما شابه‬ ‫ وحين أقوم بشراءبعض الحاجيات فإني أحملها بيدي كي ال‬، ‫ذلك‬ ‫ ألن واحدا من هذا النوع يحتاج‬، ‫أضعها في كيس بالستيكي‬ . ‫الى أكثر من ألف عام كي يتحلل‬ ‫ وليس‬، ‫إن ما يحتاج اليه النادي األخضر اآلن هو المساندة والدعم‬ ً ‫ نريد مث‬، ‫فقط الدعم المادي‬ ‫ كما نحن بحاجة الى‬، ‫ال قاعة لإلجتماعات‬ ‫مساعدة بعض الشركات المتخصصة بالبيئة إلمدادنا بالمعلومات‬ ‫ كما أن وقوف والد عوض الى جانب هذا‬.‫الالزمة والمساعدات العينية‬ ‫ فهو يقوم‬،‫النادي قام بدفعه لألمام بشكل كبير كالحمم البركانية‬ ‫ بل‬، ‫بشكل مستمر بطلب المساعدة من كل من يراه قادرًا على ذلك‬ ‫ حيث توجه الى البلدية لمساندة النادي‬، ‫أنه ذهب الى أبعد من هذا‬ . ‫ ليس‬، ‫يقول عوض أن النادي في المستقبل سيقوم بجمع المال‬ ‫ وإنما ألشياء خاصة كشراء قطعة أرض في الغابات‬، ‫ألعضاء النادي‬ ‫ إن هذه األعمال‬، ‫المطيرة أو القيام بمشاريع إنمائية والتبرع بها‬ ‫ وإنما هي واجب على كل فرد من‬،‫ليست الغاية منها كسب المال‬ ‫ إن عدد أعضاء النادي في الوقت الحالي‬.‫أجل الحفاظ على البيئة‬ ‫ ولكنه ال يريدها أن تقتصر‬، ‫ جميعهم من مدرسة عوض‬، ‫ثالثون عضوًا‬ ‫ بل مفتوحة لكل من يريد اإلشتراك في النادي وخاصة في‬،‫على ذلك‬ ‫ وهو اآلن يبحث عن مكانًا لإلجتماعات يتسع ألعداد كبيرة‬، ‫المدرسة‬ . ‫ فالنادي بحاجة ماسة لها‬، ‫ تقام بشكل دوري‬، ‫من األعضاء‬ ‫فإذا دمرت أرضنا فهل لدينا مكان آخر لنأوي اليه ؟‬ ‫وأخيرًا إذا اردت مزيدًا من المعلومات عن النادي البيئي األخضر‬ ‫تستطيع اإلتصال بعوض على موقعه اإللكتروني على األنترنت‬ awadalsaidi@yahoo.com:

55 I OASISLIVING

Should I stay or should I go How to stay healthy, and avoid making a difficult decision

Companies usually tell employees that they should stay home from work when they are sick, but for many, the decision isn’t that easy.

hile staying home from work to rest, recover and avoid infecting coworkers makes sense to most people, other factors come into play. For some they feel pressure to go to work when sick, and others say they would not get paid when taking a sick day. With those numbers in mind, and added pressure from a lagging economy, it’s not surprising that 44 percent of the survey’s respondents would consider going to work with a fever and 32 percent said they would go to work no matter how sick they are. Staying home sick is never an easy decision, especially if some of these added pressures apply. The best way to avoid staying home - and protect your health - is to take precautions to help you stay healthy. Here are a few tips to help you stay well and working this flu season and beyond: •

Wash your hands frequently. Use soap and warm water and scrub for at least 20 seconds -- about the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.

•

Keep your desk stocked. Keep hand sanitizer for disinfecting when you can’t get to the sink to wash your hands. Keep lotion handy to avoid cracking skin that can result from frequent hand washing and disinfecting.

•

Disinfect common surfaces. By frequently using a disinfectant on surfaces that experience frequent contact with multiple people, you can prevent the spread of germs. This may include shared desks, phones, doorknobs and computer keyboards.

OASISLIVING I 56

•

Practice healthy habits. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables and regular exercise can help boost your immune system to ward off sickness. Drink eight to 10 glasses of water a day to help flush toxins from your system. Get the proper amount of sleep - eight to nine hours for many people - to also help keep your immune system functioning at peak capacity.

•

Keep things fresh. Keeping rooms properly ventilated can be challenging and germs can circulate more easily indoors, so the more time you spend outside, the less you’ll be exposed to other people’s germs. Getting outside can also improve your mood and reduce stress, which helps in fighting off sickness.

•

Stock up on the essentials in the event you get sick. Make sure you’re prepared by having cough drops, tissues, soap, hand sanitizer, vitamins and fever reducer while you’re still healthy.

If you do get sick, it’s best to stay home, rest and recover, if possible, to prevent spreading the illness to your coworkers and expedite your recovery. But your most prudent course of action is to take preventative action to avoid becoming sick in the first place. -ARA

‫هل يجب أن أبقى أو‬ ‫يجب أن أذهب‬ ‫كيفية البقاء في‬ ‫صحة جيدة‪ ،‬وتجنب إتخاذ‬ ‫قرار صعب‬

‫في العادة يقول أصحاب الشركات لموظفيهم بأن يبقو في منازلهم عندما يشعرون‬ ‫بالمرض ولكن بالنسبة للكثيرين القرار ليس بهذه السهولة ‪.‬‬

‫فعندما تبقى في المنزل بعيدًا عن العمل للراحة واستعادة‬ ‫الصحة ‪ ،‬بذلك تكون قد جنبت زمالؤك من العدوى‪ .‬وهذا هو‬ ‫العمل المنطقي والسليم لمعظم الناس باإلضافة الى عوامل‬ ‫أخرى تدخل في عين اإلعتبار ‪ .‬فمث ً‬ ‫ال بعض الناس يشعرون بضغط‬ ‫نفسي عندما يذهبون للعمل وهم مرضى ‪ ،‬وبعضهم يقول أنهم‬ ‫إذا تعطلوا عن العمل بسبب المرض فإنهم اليأخذون بدل اليوم‬ ‫الذي قامو بالغياب عنه ‪ .‬مع األخذ بعين اإلعتبار الضغط النفسي‬ ‫الذي سببه الركود اإلقتصادي فإنه ليس من المستغرب آن ‪ ٪٤٤‬من‬ ‫الذين يعملون يقولون أنهم سوف يذهبون الى العمل حتى ولو‬ ‫ارتفعت حرارة جسمهم كثيرًا وأصيبو بالحمى ‪.‬‬ ‫يقول ‪ ٪٣٢‬من العاملين أنهم سوف يذهبون إلى العمل مهما كان‬ ‫مرضهم شديد‪ .‬قرار البقاء في المنزل بسبب المرض ليس باألمر‬ ‫السهل ‪ ،‬وخاصة تحت كل هذه الضغوط ‪ .‬ولهذا فهناك طريقة‬ ‫أفضل لتجنب البقاء في المنزل وحماية صحتك‪ .‬وفيما يلي بعض‬ ‫النصائح لمساعدتك على البقاء بصحة جيدة والعمل بشكل جيد‬ ‫في موسم األنفلونزا هذا وما بعده ‪:‬‬ ‫ ‬

‫•غسل اليدين بالماء الفاتر والصابون بشكل متكرر‬ ‫ولمدة التقل عن ‪ ٢٠‬ثانية في كل مرة ‪ ،‬أي نفس الوقت‬ ‫الذي تستغرقه لغناء « عيد ميالد سعيد » مرتين ‪.‬‬

‫ ‬

‫•الحفاظ على طاولة المكتبة نظيفة ومرتبة مع وضع سائل‬ ‫لتعقيم اليدين إذا لم تستطيع غسيل يديك بالماء والصابون‬ ‫‪ ،‬كما أنه من الضروري إبقاء سائل مطري لليدين لتجنب‬ ‫التشققات التي يمكن أن تحدث من كثرة الغسيل والتعقيم‬ ‫‪.‬‬ ‫•تطهير األسطح المشتركة بين العاملين والزبائن بين الحين‬ ‫واآلخر تحمي الموظفين من الجراثيم التي تنتقل عن هذا الطريق‬

‫ ‬

‫‪57 I OASISLIVING‬‬

‫‪ ،‬كما أن هناك طرق أخرى للحماية من إنتقال الجراثيم عن طريق‬ ‫المالمسة وهو تنظيف أسطح المكاتب المشتركة والهواتف‬ ‫ولوحات المفاتيح للكومبيوتر ومقابض األبواب بالمعقمات ‪.‬‬ ‫ ‬

‫•يجب التركيز على العادات الصحية من خالل وضع نظام‬ ‫غذائي غني بالفواكه والخضار ‪ ،‬وممارسة التمارين الرياضية‬ ‫بانتظام‪ .‬فهي تساعد على تعزيز وتقوية الجهاز المناعي في‬ ‫الجسم لدرء المرض ‪ .‬وبشرب ثمانية الى عشرة أكواب من‬ ‫الماء يوميًا تساعد على طرح السموم من الجسم ‪ ،‬باإلضافة‬ ‫إلى ضرورة النوم ثمانية إلى تسعة ساعات يوميًا ‪ ،‬لإلبقاء‬ ‫على الجهاز المناعي في الجسم يعمل بطاقته القصوى ‪.‬‬

‫ ‬

‫•إبقاء األشياء مجددة ‪ ،‬كاإلبقاء على هواء الغرفة مجددًا بإستمرار ‪،‬‬ ‫وبالتاليفمنالصعوبةعلىالجراثيمالتحركبسهولةضمنالغرفة‪.‬‬

‫ ‬

‫•قم بتخزين األدوية لحاالت حدوث المرض‬ ‫وتأكد أنك جاهزًا خالل شراء األدوية الخاصة‬ ‫بالسعال والمناديل والصابون ومعقمات‬ ‫وخافضات‬ ‫والفيتامينات‬ ‫اليدين‬ ‫الحرارة حتى ولو كنت غير مريض ‪.‬‬

‫ ‬

‫•إذا تعرضت للمرض فمن األفضل أن‬ ‫تبقى في المنزل للراحة حتى تعود‬ ‫لعافيتك إذا كان باإلمكان ‪ ،‬حتى‬ ‫ال ينتشر المرض بين العمال وحتى‬ ‫يصبح شفاؤك سريعًا ‪ ،‬ولكن يجب‬ ‫أخذ اإلحتياطات الالزمة لتفادي وقوعك في‬ ‫المرض أوالً ‪.‬‬

SELF IMPROVEMENT

International

Women’s Day

By Ginette Collin

nternational Women’s Day (IWD), on the 8th of March, is celebrated in many countries around the world. It is an occasion to reflect on the past struggles and achievements of women and to inspire women to look towards future opportunities. IWD is considered important enough in some countries to merit a national holiday. This includes China, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. While there is a growing awareness of IWD, many people may not know how or why it evolved. According to the United Nations, IWD emerged from the activities of labor movements in North America & Europe in the early 1900s. In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding better working conditions in the garment industry. Two years later, at the International Conference of Working Women held in Copenhagen, Clara Zetkin proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day–a women’s day–to press their demands. The following year, IWD was honored for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany

OASISLIVING I 58

and Switzerland. More than 1 million women and men attended the IWD rallies campaigning for women’s rights to work, to vote, to be trained, and to hold public office. In 1913 this grew even further when Russia and the rest of Europe joined in the movement. Since then, IWD has grown to become a global day of celebration across the world. The United Nations designated 1975 as “International Women’s Year” to gain further publicity for the movement. Since then, women’s organizations and governments around the world have observed IWD by organizing events to inspire women and to celebrate their achievements.

have an array of choices and opportunities: • • •

Emirati women represent 25% of the workforce today, compared to 9.6% in 1985. (1) The UAE has the highest rate of females in higher education in the world at 77%. (1) Entrepreneurship is a growing trend with 11,000 Emirati businesswomen now supporting the UAE’s economy. (2)

International Women’s Day Contributing to a Better World

The United Arab Emirates is a relatively young country. There is a growing awareness of women’s roles in modern society. Although the UAE is generally regarded as a patriarchal society, there are a wide range of career opportunities for Emirati women. Sheikha Lubna is one example of a woman taking a leading role in politics, business and inspiring young women. She was recently named the Arab world’s most powerful woman by Forbes magazine.

International Women’s Day is an excellent time to reflect and appreciate the opportunities that some of us have been blessed with. I’m fortunate to have been born in Canada, and I’m grateful for the barriers that my mother and grandmothers broke through to make life better for the women of my generation. I‘m also aware that if I was born in a developing country under different circumstances−where it’s difficult to find clean water, food, a regular income, and a safe environment−my life would have taken a different pathway.

Furthermore, young Emirati women

In the nineteenth and twentieth

The UAE

International Women’s Day SELF IMPROVEMENT

centuries, women achieved significant progress in the developed world; however, this is not the case in the developing world. “Despite many international agreements affirming their human rights, women are still much more likely than men to be poor and illiterate. They usually have less access than men to medical care, property ownership, credit, training and employment. They are far less likely than men to be politically active and far more likely to be victims of domestic violence.” (3) International Women’s Day is an ideal time to think about those women in the world who are in these situations. In such an interconnected world, it is now much easier to know how other women in the world are living and the issues that they face. The internet, mobile phones and social networking can bring us all closer together. This creates an opportunity for us to help women, especially since there are a wide range of organizations that help facilitate this support from a distance.

Personal Perspective We Can All Help

From a personal perspective, although I sometimes feel helpless, I take comfort in knowing that I actively educate myself on the current problems affecting females around the world, and I do my little bit by supporting various charities. My favorite charities include: Kiva (www.kiva.org), Girl Effect (www. girleffect.org) and Heal Africa (www. healafrica.org). However, there are many other interesting organizations to support women who need help. It’s important to identify what fits with your values and your budget. I prefer to support organizations that

work at the grass roots level, where administration fees are minimal and a larger proportion of my money is used directly “on the ground.” Whether you contribute a large sum of money or a small amount, it all helps. When I have spare cash, I contribute more. When things are a bit tight, I can still contribute something that fits my budget. I’m a firm believer in educating girls and empowering women. I feel this is the way to improve the conditions within whole communities. Greg Mortenson, who is one of my heroes, explains it very well in his book Three Cups of Tea, in which he quotes an African proverb: “Educate a boy, and you educate an individual. Educate a girl, and you educate a community.” If we educate a girl, there is more chance that she will stay healthy, have less chances of contracting HIV, will marry later, have better job opportunities and earning potential. Furthermore, “It is a recognized fact that women who earn income spend more on their families then men do” (4). Helping women to become educated and to find work is an excellent way to break the cycle of poverty.

Summary

International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on the achievements of the women in your own country and within the UAE. We’ve come a long way and we should be thankful for that. However, for all women to shine to their highest potential, we still have work to do. We can support and empower women all around the world if we want to. International Women’s Day is an excellent time to think globally

Greg Mortenson, who is one of my heroes, explains it very well in his book Three Cups of Tea, in which he quotes an African proverb: “Educate a boy, and you educate an individual. Educate a girl, and you educate a community.” and reflect on how we can support women less fortunate than us. 1. Moore, Lynda. 2008. “Voices of UAE Women Business Leaders: Research in Progress.” Zayed University and Simmons School of Management (US). 2. Swan, Melanie. 05.05.10. The National. “Women Urged to Pursue Research Careers.” 3. United Nations Population Fund. 2010. www.unfpa.org/gender/ empowerment.htm 4. Degnan Kabou, Sarah. 30.07.10. “Women in Developing Countries: Sowing the Seeds for the Future.”

59 I OASISLIVING

JOURNAL

Uncover London

Journal of an Emirati student

UNCOVER LONDON WITH

Meraymi

OASISLIVING I 60

Uncover London

t’s always great to be back reporting for you all in the Emirates. As you know me a little better now, I feel I can write freely about the great city of London. I started lectures again, and now I’m packed with a full timetable. I don’t mind, though. I love learning and not even a warm bed can keep me away from campus.

don’t succeed try and try again. Third time lucky? I should be so lucky, but driving can wait for a while because university comes first. One of my projects coming up requires making a short film. However, it’s group work and requires a lot of attention and planning. Lucky for me, I have a great team of people to work with.

Lately, I’ve noticed everyone’s been getting a bit lazy. Yes, it’s freezing outside, but at the end of the day we all made the choice to get ourselves an education, and we should use that privilege properly. Students have a reputation for being loud, messy, crazy, but smart. Very true because university allows you to enjoy yourself in a fashion you feel comfortable with, unlike school, where you don’t have a choice. I realised in my last year of high school that I was going to go on and achieve to my fullest potential and now I can do that at Brunel.

Lately on BBC there has been a documentary series called Human Planet, which features indigenous people from New Guinea and the Arctic. They basically work to survive, to feed their families each day; if you do not go out and work, you do not get fed. Their worries are natural disasters or going without food, not like us worrying about looking good or not having enough money to buy a new phone.

Regardless, I know it can get boring in lectures and seminars and all you want to do is start playing with your Blackberry. Still, sitting in classroom is more productive than watching re-runs of Friends. At the end of a long and tiring week, all I can say is, it’s not a hard life. We really do take that for granted as students. Maybe for a medical student or a law student, but not a Film and Television student. So I’m happy I can get myself out of bed in the morning because I love coming home knowing I did my best, even if I don’t have anyone around to tell me so. Yes, the bad news is that I failed my theory driving test TWICE. They always say, though, if at first you

The power of TV and film is such a great way of showing the truth, especially in documentaries such as Human Planet. That’s why I appreciate my course because I’m able to do everything I want and do what I enjoy. I want to show the world through a lens, but I don’t want to succumb to the distortion of using special effects. The best films to me are the ones that don’t need a computer to create a scene; this takes away from the wonders of the real world. This week in my New Hollywood Cinema module, we looked at Avatar. In a nutshell, Hollywood aims to make as much money as possible so it can fund its incredibly expensive casts and locations. As audiences, we’re the ones who pay their wages, and therefore we pay the cinemas, who pay the distributors, who then pay those

JOURNAL

Students have a reputation for being loud, messy, crazy, but smart. Very true because uni allows you to enjoy yourself in a fashion you feel comfortable with, unlike school, where you don’t have a choice.

who make the movies. I’ve always been interested in the more artsy side of filmmaking, however, because art films aim higher in making films that have deeper meanings. I think it’s important to think critically as a Film student. Miley Cyrus? I’ve seen better acting from a dog on Desperate Housewives. Catch up with me next month to hear everything else I’ve been getting up to. The British Film Awards start soon and I reckon The King’s Speech will swipe most of the awards. I must go see it; it sounds like a very inspiring film. Until then, it’s hot chocolate and bed time. Sweet dreams, everyone xx

61 I OASISLIVING

PROFILE Alia al Mazrouei

Breaking Barriers Alia al Mazrouei

lia Al Mazrouei is a ‘superwoman,’ a nickname she got from her colleagues by surpassing societal expectations of the traditional woman. As a mother of two, she manages a home, is the co-founder of two businesses (Just Falafel and Just Cupcakes) and maintains a full-time job at a governmental entity. She spoke to Oasis Living about the driving force behind her success. Alia al Mazrouei is a young, eloquent beauty with a great command of the English language. Upon our initial meeting at her parent’s residence, she began by introducing her daughter to me, a cute four-year-old named Rouda, “We named her after my mother,” she told me. “My two-year-old son Abdulla is named after my father,” she adds. Alia’s professional career took off in 2001. After graduating from UAEU in 2001 with a degree in Management Information Systems, she secured a job with a prominent oil and gas company. While working, she pursued her Master’s in Business and gave birth to her first child. With a full-time career, pregnancy and school, Alia confesses it was challenging, “I never took any rest with my first child. I was constantly working throughout.” After attaining her Master’s degree, she moved on to another company. It was from here that her remarkable talent was noted and she was poached by the governmental entity she is currently working for.

If you have a dream and you think that nothing is unstoppable you will achieve it, but if you have barriers then you won’t, but remember that nothing goes to waste so you’re better off trying.

Alia is co-founder of Just Falafel. “We had challenges just like any other company and especially since we began operations in December 2007, during the height of the recession.” There were other cafés and restaurants serving falafel, but they identified a niche market, “We have several flavors contrary to the traditional falafel, and consumers have a healthy option

OASISLIVING I 62

‫‪Alia al Mazrouei PROFILE‬‬

‫كســـــر الحواجز‬ ‫علياء المزروعي‬

‫اإلمرأة الخارقة إسم اكتسبته علياء المزروعي من قبل زمالؤها بعد أن تجاوزت كل التوقعات المحتملة للمرأة التقليدية ‪ .‬إنها أم‬ ‫ألثنين ومدبرة منزل ‪ ،‬وهي من أسس شركات ( فقط فالفل ‪ -‬فقط كعك )‪ .‬كما أن لديها وظيفة بدوام كامل في جهاز الشؤون‬ ‫التنفيذية ‪ ،‬وهذا مادفعها ألن تتكلم مع مجلتنا أويسيس ليفينغ عن سبب القوة الدافعة خلف نجاحاتها‪.‬‬ ‫علياء المزروعي ‪ :‬شابة في مقتبل العمر جميلة ذكية وتتقن اللغة اإلنكليزية‪ .‬لديها ابنتها روضة على إسم والدتها وعمرها أربعة‬ ‫أعوام ‪ ،‬وأبنها عبد اهلل وعمره سنتان وأسمته على إسم والدها‪ .‬وعند لقائهاإكتشفنا أن لديها خبرات كثيرة اكتسبتها بعد‬ ‫تخرجها من جامعة اإلمارات العربية المتحدة ‪ ٢٠٠١‬م باختصاص نظم المعلومات اإلدارية ‪ .‬وبهذه الشهادة تمكنت علياء من‬ ‫العمل بشركة النفط والغاز ‪.‬‬ ‫وأثناء عملها قامت بمتابعة دراستها وحصلت على درجة الماجستير في إدارة األعمال ‪ ،‬باإلضافة الى قيامها بوضع طفلها‬ ‫األول خالل فترة عملها الدائم والذي لم تقطعه طيلة فترة حملها ‪ ،‬وتعترف علياء بأنها قامت بعمل صعب جدًا وتتابع‬ ‫القول أنني لم آخذ أي استراحة في أثناء وجود طفلي األول ‪ ،‬فكنت أعمل طول الوقت وبعد تحقيقي درجة الماجستير‬ ‫انتقلت الى العمل في شركة أخرى إسمها « مصدر » ‪ .‬وكان كل هذا التغير عائدًا الى موهبتها الرائعة والتي قامت‬ ‫باكتسابها من خالل عملها في الشؤون التنفيذية ‪ .‬وهي اآلن تعمل مع الشركاء الرئيسيين في التنمية‬ ‫الحضارية وتنفيذ الخطط اإلقتصادية واإلستراتيجية كما‬ ‫تقول بأنهم « الحاضنون للمشاريع الجديدة » ‪.‬‬ ‫وكما نعلم بأن علياء هي المكتشفة لمحالت « فقط فالفل‬ ‫وتقول علياء إن أجمل وأمتع وقت قضيته‬ ‫» وهي تقول رغم كل التحديات والتنافس مع الشركات‬ ‫األخرى ‪ ،‬وباألخص عندما بدأنا فتح المحالت في كانون‬ ‫هو عندما قامت برحلة إلى الهند لمدة‬ ‫األول من عام ‪٢٠٠٧‬م وفي أعلى مستويات التراجع‬ ‫عشرة أيام والشيء الهام الذي جعلها‬ ‫اإلقتصادي ‪ .‬ففي ذلك الوقت كان هناك عدد‬ ‫تستمتع طوال هذا الوقت هو قيامها‬ ‫كبير من المطاعم التي تقدم الفالفل بطعمات‬ ‫مختلفة ‪ ،‬لكن الزبائن يزورون أسواقنا المتخصصة‬ ‫بإغالق الموبايل وبالتالي إنقطاعها عن‬ ‫‪ .‬فإن لدينا عدد من الطعمات المختلفة وللزبائن حق‬ ‫مؤثرات العمل والعالم الخارجي ‪.‬‬ ‫اإلختيار الصحيح بالنسبة للطعمة والنكهة بين‬ ‫الفالفل المقلية أو المشوية ‪ .‬وبإختالف البلدان‬ ‫تختلف األذواق ‪ ،‬وبالتالي النكهات ‪ .‬فاألذواق‬ ‫في اإلمارات تختلف عنها في اليونان‬ ‫‪ ،‬وعن البرغر األمريكي والهندي والمصري والمكسيكي واللبناني والياباني ‪ ،‬وحتى اإليطالي ‪.‬‬ ‫ولكن محالتنا قد توصلت الى نوع محدد من الفالفل وذلك بعد سؤال ما يقارب المليون زبون ‪،‬‬ ‫وبنتيجة ذلك سوف يفتتحون مركزًا آخر لهم في سلطنة عمان ‪.‬‬ ‫وعلى الرغم من كل إنجازاتها تقول علياء أن عائلتي وبساطة العيش الذي أنا فيه هم‬ ‫اللذين يحققون لي ذلك النجاح ‪ ،‬باإلضافة الى العامل األساسي في نجاحاتي وهو والدي‬ ‫‪63 I OASISLIVING‬‬

PROFILE Alia al Mazrouei

My children mean a lot to me… but I also find it hard to stay at home and I love my job.

of having it prepared baked or fried.” The flavors range from Emirati, Greek, American Burger, Indian, Egyptian, Mexican, Lebanese, Japanese and Italian. They have reached their one millionth consumer mark and are establishing themselves as a regional brand with soonto-open franchised branches in Dubai and Oman. Just Falafel is a UAE brand that will grow globally with its new slogan of “I fell in love with Falafel”. Despite all her achievements, she maintains that it is her family and the simplicities of life that keep her grounded. The driving force in her life is her father, “He’s like a mentor for me, always full of positive energy.” For aspiring entrepreneurs, Alia advises that, “If you have a dream and you think that nothing is unstoppable you will achieve it, but if you have barriers then you won’t, but remember that nothing goes to waste so you’re better off trying.” For relaxation she resorts to switching off her Blackberry. “The most peaceful time I had was when I had traveled to India and had my Blackberry turned off for ten days!” She ensures that her career never gets in the way of her family, and it’s quite clear in her time management. After work she enjoys taking her children to the park. “My children mean a lot to me…but I also find it hard to stay at home and I love my job.” Her last words go to out to women wanting to break barriers. She advises that it does take a considerable amount of time, some level of education, and understanding, “Nothing is smooth at the beginning.”

OASISLIVING I 64

‫الذي له التأثير الكبير واإليجابي في توجيهي بقوة نحو تحقيق‬ . ‫إنجازاتي‬ ‫تقدم علياء النصيحة ألصحاب المشاريع الطموحين قائلة‬ ‫ إذا كان لديكم حلم وتعتقدون أنه ما من أحد سيوقفكم‬: ‫ ولكن عند وجود عوائق وحواجز‬، ‫فبالتأكيد سوف تحققونه‬ ‫تمنعكم عن تحقيق أحالمكم فال تستسلمو وحاولوا تكرار‬ . ‫التجربة مرة أخرى وتذكروا دائمًا أن الشيء يذهب هباءًا‬ ‫وتقول علياء إن أجمل وأمتع وقت قضيته هو عندما قمت‬ ‫ والشيء الهام الذي جعلها‬، ‫برحلة إلى الهند لمدة عشرة أيام‬ ‫تستمتع طوال هذا الوقت هو قيامها بإغالق الموبايل وبالتالي‬ . ‫إنقطاعها عن مؤثرات العمل والعالم الخارجي‬ ‫وهي دائمًا تؤكد أن حياتها المهنية لم تتعارض مع حياتها‬ ‫ فبعد العمل تقوم‬. ‫ فهي تدير وقتها بشكل جيد‬، ‫العائلية‬ ‫علياء بأخذ أوالدها إلى الحديقة ألنهم كل شئ في حياتها‬ ‫ ولكن من الصعب البقاء في البيت من‬. ‫ويعنون لها الكثير‬ ‫ ولذلك تنصح علياء من‬. ‫غير عمل فهي تحب عملها أيضًا‬ ‫خالل كلمتها األخيرة للنساء اللواتي يرغبون في كسر الحواجز‬ ً ‫إن ذلك يستغرق وقتًا طوي‬ ‫ال ومستوى معين من التعليم‬ » ‫والتفهم لألمر « ألنه الشيء يأتي بسهولة في البداية‬

Al Ain Housewife

The Geriatric Mother

others’ Day is rolling around once again so naturally I’m pondering the state of motherhood, or more specifically, my own motherhood. There’s something about having a baby that makes you question all of your decisions. It doesn’t matter if you’re a new mom or not. There’s always this worry whether you’re doing it right. I think most parents have this fear of doing something irrevocable that will screw their kids up for life. This fear is a very real part of my life. Am I too tough on them or too lenient? Am I being overprotective? Should I punish her or just let it go? If yes, what’s a suitable punishment? Will she become materialistic if I buy her that? Should I intervene or let her fight her own battles? Will she remember this for the rest of her life? Even the decision to have more than one child causes a whole slew of concerns. Will I be able to give each child enough attention? What about money? How will the new child affect the family dynamic? What happens if

there’s something wrong with the baby? This last question was especially pertinent during my last pregnancy when I was a “geriatric mother.” This is a woman who gives birth after the age of 35. My first two pregnancies (at 29 and 33) were much different than this last one (at 40). A lot certainly has changed. First of all, it was much harder physically. Aches, pains, leg cramps and insomnia showed up early in the 6th month and decided to stick around until the end, like a party guest who won’t leave. The other difference was in the medical testing. There were several nerve-wracking testsmainly non-invasive blood tests and sonogramsto determine the likelihood of birth defects. This was the scary part. Because of my age and test results, my chances of having a baby with a birth defect were pretty high, about 1 in 80. No one could say for certain whether the baby would be fine or not. The doctors said I’d just have to wait and see. So I always had that possibility in the back of my mind. I even had the pediatrician at Grace’s birth give

her a thorough check to rule it out. Thank God she was, and is, perfect. Being an older mom is different in other ways too. Losing sleep is much less important to me this time around. I remember fixating on it with my firstborn, which I’m sure just made it seem worse. I’m also a bit more relaxed this time, less worried about dirt and strangers touching my baby. I give Grace a longer tether and sometimes even let her off the tether completely. I think I’m also enjoying this baby more. Don’t get me wrong. I loved (and still do love, of course) my first two babies, but this time is different. With my first I was uptight and with my second I was busy (after all, I also had a 3 year old). But with this baby, I find myself marveling at her every action. I also love to see her interact with her big sisters. My older daughter has become more responsible and my middle daughter, always good for a laugh, can make the baby go from wailing to giggling in a heartbeat. I still second-guess myself, but maybe that’s a good thing. My husband and I try to discuss the ramifications of our decisions rather than simply fly by the seats of our pants. We hope this helps us make the best decisions, although there have been times when we’ve had to admit mistakes. I think it’s okay to let your kids know you aren’t perfect. Perhaps acknowledging this can be a lesson in itself. Being a parent is the hardest job around. It’s also the most important one. What we do each and every day helps shape our children. It’s daunting when you think about it. You don’t really know if you’ve done a good job until your children have grown up, and by then it’s too late.

65 I OASISLIVING

CITY SNAPSHOT

City Snapshot Awf A. Rahem

Jocelyn Gundan

OASISLIVING I 66

Russell Gale

CITY SNAPSHOT

Jocelyn Gundan

67 I OASISLIVING

CULTURAL DIGEST Disorientation

oving to a new country can be overwhelming, disarming, unsettling. I have, thankfully, forgotten much of my own murky transition from New York to Al Ain. I’ve repressed the memories, exiled them to a dark corner of my unconscious. Here’s what I can recall, in a slightly fictionalized version: I checked into the Ramiltocon Hotel three days before Orientation, but during that time no one from the company contacted me. I wondered if they’d forgotten about me, if they’d had second thoughts. I felt like David Bowie’s unhinged astronaut, Major Tom, floating haplessly through space. On the first day of Personnel Orientation, I knotted an uncertain necktie and skipped down to the lobby at the appointed hour. I put on my best face, the one that smiles and

OASISLIVING I 68

engages in robust handshakes, the one that enjoys smalltalk and really wants to know about other people’s fascinating hobbies and figurine collections. There was no company representative, however, no folding table lined with nametags, no perky HR drone with clipboard face and spreadsheet arms. There was no one except for a dour Icelandic gentleman with an impressive beard, a homespun sweater vest, and a name so long and incomprehensible that I didn’t dare ask him to repeat it. “Are you with EduCo?” I asked, eventually, when it became clear that Beardie Vest was my only companion. “Ah, uhm, hah. Blrgh!” “I’m Henry. Nice to meet you.” “ °ξëζπ π.” “Yes, okay.” I paused to recoup. “What department are you in?”

Disorientation CULTURAL DIGEST

“_________.” Any attempt to transliterate his response would be futile. “Yeah, that’s a good department. I hear. So−” I was rescued, to some extent, by a man who swooped through the revolving doors and summoned us with impatient hand gestures. “Hi, I’m Henr−” I began, introducing myself to his retreating back. The man herded us into a dirty van, which carried us to the Hiladental Hotel, where the other 98 new recruits were staying. He pushed us through the revolving doors toward a pastel ballroom. Inside, the others were gathered around a series of tables covered in white tablecloths. Inspirational banners implored us to work as teams, to celebrate overtime, to enjoy shorter lunch breaks. My new colleagues ate fruit, cheese and pastries, drank coffee and tea from plastic samovars. They adjusted ties and flipped hair and presented one another with heroic or underappreciated versions of themselves. The buffet looked grim, and the coffee urn was empty. I had nothing and no one but °ξëζπ π, who stood by my side and smiled obscurely. I looked around for fresh coffee, jealous of the smiling faces and full bellies, the fake-porcelain cups raised to caffeinated lips. I must have lost track of time. My inscrutable Icelander tapped me on the shoulder. He pointed

to all the people in the room who weren’t there anymore. “Where’d they go?” I asked. He shrugged, the most poignant thing I ever heard him say. I spied a woman slipping through a door. We followed. Behind the door, 97 people dandled coffee cups on crossed knees. A waitress was standing in front of 98, wringing the final drops from a chrome pot. We sat and waited a few minutes before a tanned administrator burst into the room with an Amway smile and televangelical hair. “Good morning, everyone, and welcome to EduCo.” “Good morning,” we moaned back, kindergarteners to his school principal. “Good news for everyone who’s staying here at the Hiladental. Your housing is ready. You can move in tomorrow.” Applause, smiles, assorted chatter. Two men hugged as if they were identical twins, separated at birth, who’d just been reunited. “Now, there’s one thing. Who’s at the Ramiltocon ?” I looked at °ξëζπ π. He looked at me. I pictured myself spending the rest of my life with him, and my wife and children, in a hotel room. The next day we visited the hospital for x-rays, blood tests and urine samples. I became lost at some point, in a narrow hallway clogged with hundreds of laborers.

I put on my best face, the one that smiles and engages in robust handshakes, the one that enjoys smalltalk and really wants to know about other people’s fascinating hobbies and figurine collections. I held the Gatorade-yellow specimen cup before me like a divining rod, hoping it would point in the right direction. I was scared, without even °ξëζπ to guide me. Eventually, a janitor led me to the relevant ward and even showed me where to deposit my sample. I thought he should be given a job in HR, or perhaps made an administrator at EduCo. I even thought about offering him my own job, but he gave me a look that suggested he didn’t want it. I was starting to wonder if I wanted the job.

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THE SCENE

“Dog Day Afternoon” at the Rugby Club (Palm Resort). February, 11th 2011

Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, member of the Executive Council and Chairman of The Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club the Animal Welfare Al Ain (AWA) held a “Dog Day Afternoon.” The first of its kind event attracted dozens of dog owners, lovers and enthusiasts.

1- A happy team – also first place winners of the ‘Best 6 Legs’ category. 2- Isabelle and her dog, Berty who clutched the second place position for ‘Best 6 Legs’ category. 3- Commentator and the judges in action at the “Dog Day Afternoon.” 4- Having a good time – Cheryl, an organizer of the event, and staff writer, Irene. 5- Nigel and Debra with their dog, ‘Kelby.’ 2 5

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QUIZ CORNER

Puzzle Sudoku

Travel Trivia Errol Flynn’s last film was a documentary tribute to which world leader?

Who was the first Prime Minister of independent South Africa?

Who did Lionel Jospin replace as French Prime Minister?

In what year was the world’s first woman Prime Minister elected?

Who became Russian Prime Minister in September 1998?

Who succeeded Brezhnev as President of the USSR?

Who became president of Zambia in 1991?

Who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998?

How was Papa Doc also known?

10.

Who said, “We have the happiest Africans in the world”?

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Find the answers on our website : www.myoasisliving.com

QUIZ CORNER

Positive Character Traits BRAVE CARING COMPASSIONATE CONSIDERATE COOPERATIVE COURAGEOUS DILIGENT DISCRIMINATE FRIENDLY FUNNY GENEROUS GENTLE HARD-WORKING HUMOROUS INTELLIGENT KIND LOVING LOYAL METICULOUS PERSISTENT SELFLESS STUDIOUS THOUGHTFUL

Milo AGE : 10 months BREED : Mixed GENDER : Male

Ginger cat

old

He would suit a family with older children as he was mistreated and is a little timid. He has a wonderful disposition, however, and would thrive in a loving home.

AGE : One year old BREED : Mixed breed short haired domestic cat GENDER : Male

Milo

Ginger Cat

Ginger cat was found very emaciated and suffering from ﬂu but was treated and has recovered well. Ginger is very affectionate and loves to be fussed over.

Fun Facts

“Did you know that stroking a cat or dog is good for your health as it can lower your blood pressure.”

Animal Welfare Al Ain

Please contact us if you have any comments, queries,if you would like to volunteer, foster or adopt a pet. Contact us by email: www.animalwelfare@gmail.com

67 I OASISLIVING 73

9 10 11

2 3

14 15

4 16

6 18 19 20

ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE TEN ELEVEN TWELVE

M L Z KMN T EN UMCB AHA I N I NE SWR N RM I F E I G NZK YV F

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I R O T C I V Q O E H G R E S

E L E V E N R E H R P T A C E A A

B A F A M T D F G C M I R V A M R

J A K A I I D V G A I T A E I T A A I

I T L A XW R A E P L E MRS RE BL E T I NAT T V H QOWMOQ EE S ADO I ADO R B N E R S L TWO I Y A DH I KGH I K E I S J I EA J I EO L A A I C T HR E E V R S HX S NHX S N CU T HE A PN I AR N H Y GB X F OU R H A S TO R BWJ K J O G UG K HUG AGONF I VE CS T ABXH H I S TOR TXG J

1. School work you do in the evening 2. Head of the school 3. Where you go to eat lunch 4. After school punishment 5. A written composition 6. A method of transportation 7. A time to play outside 8. You colour with these 9. Something used for carrying school supplies 10. Rings when class begins 11. You ﬁnd these at the library 12. A teacher’s replacement 13. A subject that teaches you about numbers and shapes 14. A room for indoor sports 15. A book for taking notes 16. A subject that includes Biology, Chemistry,and more 17. Another word for blackboard 18. Needs a sharpner 19. A permanent writing instrument 20. One who teaches

Find the answers on our website : www.myoasisliving.com

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