And yes, we made it pool side!

We did spend a few days at the pool while Cheryl was here. It's one of my favorite places in Al Ain!

A bunch of snicker snackers from Christmas

Here's some random christmasy things that Cheryl and I did while she was here.

We went out for shwarma with Ahalam (my arabic teacher), Latifah (her sister) and Shiny (my co-worker).

We hosted Christmas brunch at Trey and Jessie's for some single ladies. (Yes, we played Beyonce's All the Single Ladies throughout the whole meal.)

We hosted Christmas Eve dinner for my church!

The three wisemen came to the hospital as in Oasis Hospital tradition. The Bible story of the 3 magi arriving with gifts for baby Jesus is read on Christmas Day!

That was Christmas in the desert this year and I am so happy that I had Cheryl to do all of these things with. Some things are just better when you are with friends!

A much merrier Christmas

This year I can say I am having a much merrier christmas than I was last year. Last year, my Aunt was suppose to come but, was on a flight that was cancelled because of the snow in England. We ended up celebrating Christmas in February with her instead. This year Cheryl is here and she made it without any problems at all. Cheryl and I have been baking, cooking and even mall shopping!

Cheryl brought some mint extract for me- I had been craving peppermint hot chocolate so, here's to a much merrier Christmas than last year!

It's Christmas Time in City

My friend Cheryl made it and we are having a good time enjoying the "cold" weather. It's been in the high 80's in the afternoon and in the 60's in the evenings.

We went to Abu Dhabi this weekend and it really is christmas time in the city especially at the Emirates Palace. The Emirates Palace is a fancy schmancy hotel that costs way too much for girls like us to be sleeping in. It's about $1,500 for a modest room for one night but, walking tours are free.

The man at the gate told us we needed a reservation for a tour and I told him that I was going back to Al Ain that night and that meant my guest from America wouldn't see the hotel. We smiled, Cheryl flipped her blonde hair and walah, like magic he waved us through. (ok maybe she didn't flip her hair but, I couldn't see her when I was facing the man talking to him so she could have been flipping her blonde hair).

Finally, after some smiles and maybe some hair flipping we got to see the gorgeous, sort of tacky and super expensive Christmas Tree in the lobby! (capitalization of Christmas Tree is necessary for a tree of this sorts)

She's from Boston

Well... She's sort of from Boston. Cheryl (the one in the blue shirt... the one in the blue shirt with blonde hair) will be coming for Christmas in the UAE! I am so excited to go pick Cheryl up at the airport on Thursday night. She will get in after church on Thursday and I just can't wait to go get her and have some girly-girl time while she is here. We have pedicures sceduled first thing Friday morning and plenty of time for the pool!

"Time to Make the Bread"

In the UAE the traditional bread that the bedouins or the native people of the UAE make is a paper thin crusty bread that you eat with most traditional meals. The only people who make it are the older women. It is made on a hot metal plate over an open flame. Last week a woman was making it and I had a chance to get some pictures of her. The pictures are sort of in reverse order and I couldn't get my blog to work for me so... just scroll up!

The Spirit of the Union- the UAE Celebrates 40 Years

December 2nd is National Day for the UAE. This year they are celebrating 40 years of national history. It's strange to think that a country is younger than my parents and has come so far in such a short time. It's also a little funny that the hosptial where I work is celebrating 51 years of history this year- do the math, we have been her 11 years longer!

Around here it means it's time to adorn everything you can with red, white, green and black the colors of the Emirati flag. People even give you pretty hair bows like this one for National Day... doesn't get much better!

There are celebrations happening all over the city and we get to a part of a few of them. The boys above are throwing rifles (fake ones) into the air as part of a traditional Emirati dance.

We even hosted a small celebration at the hospital!

Complete with face painting by Jessie and a few other women in our office!