Ramadan Timing

This is my third Ramadan in the UAE and I keep forgetting that shops are closed for Iftar (breaking of fast).


As a Catholic, I do my normal routines except I don't show myself chewing and I cover my shoulders and hips appropriately in consideration of the Muslims' holy month. No sexy clothing!

Then I needed to buy a new umbrella and a blue sewing thread at this shop called The Gift Village. I also needed to buy a kilo of almonds at the Choithram Supermarket. And I also remembered to re-stock on oatmeal and fresh milk.

I was very conscious of the time. Iftar is at 6:00 pm and most shops will start opening by then. I went out at past 6:30 pm. I walked going to Choithram first and bought my almonds. Next stop was at The Gift Village. On my way there I saw the Italian ice cream bar just opened and inviting customers to come in. I took note that they offer wi-fi connection. I might need that in the future, who knows. I reached The Gift Village and found it was locked. They are closed for Iftar break from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Darn it! I looked at my watch and it was only 6:56 pm. I can't bear to wait 'til they open under 36 degrees C!

I headed to Amber Centre (another supermarket) instead and decided to get oatmeal and milk before going home. I was beginning to perspire and feel sticky with all that walking. Five minutes later, I reached Amber and saw people standing outside. It's still on Iftar break. I checked the time and it's still more than twenty minutes before they open.

That's it! I'm not happy to feel I'm constantly in a sauna so I went home to the comfort of cool air and a comfy sofa to watch whatever's on TV.

Having not finished my to-dos, I'll be needing to prepare my mind again to go out in the heat and shop...maybe tomorrow, Inshallah!

Muslims and Christians can co-exist peacefully in a Muslim country. While Muslims fast, Christians sacrifice...we're used to that! I just need to remember.

UAE Driver's License: SUCCESS!

Praise God! Al hamdrilah! I did it! Success!

I had to endure hours and hours of waiting but knowing I passed, I didn't care about the time as long as I walk out of the UAE Traffice Office with my driving license in hand.

The night before, I've been praying that God let me pass the test because I didn't want to pay another Dhs 65 to take it the second time. I even made a pact that if He lets me pass, I'll be happy to donate the Dhs 65 as tithe on this Friday's service. Well, after all this, I've decided to give Dhs 100 because He is worth much more than that.

Now that I have it and it's valid for ten years, I look back at what I had to endure and thought it was all worth while. My test was scheduled at 9 am and I got there at 8:45 am. After waiting for about an hour, my name was called and together with two other ladies, we proceeded to the test car. Two lady instructors were with us.

I was the second to take the wheel and I just followed instructions. With the car parked on the right shoulder, I went to the left-most lane. I was told to make a u-turn so I slowed down when I reached it. After the road was cleared, I went in and got into the middle lane. The instructor shouted, "Petrol, petrol!" so I slammed the gas pedal. She told me to make a full roundabout. I slowed down upon reaching it and entered when it was safe. After practically making a u-turn, she shouted again, "Petrol, petrol!" so I made a full step on the gas. After a while, she told me to "change an." I thought I heard her say 'change hand' so I had to ask, "Change what?" And she said, "layn, layn!" Then I understood that she wanted me to change lane! But, it was too late since we were approaching the roundabout and there were a lot of cars in the que and there was a truck on my right. So, she said, "Kahlas! Go full roundabout." And so, I did.

I went to the left-most lane and she told me to "change layn" and I did. Then she said, "After the pavement, go to the right and park." Then it was the last girl's turn.

When that was done, we went back to the room and waited for our name to be called again. When the instructor called my name, she asked me, "What's your mistake?" I said, "I don't know." She said, "Too much speed. You pass." Then she gave me a receipt with Arabic written on it. Woohoo!

Then I was told to go to Rooom 18. I went there and asked a police in uniform, "What I do now, please?" He turned to ask a local guy wearing a kandura and the local asked for my paper. He then asked me, "When you finish test?" I said, "Today." Then he shook his head and asked "How long you wait here? One hour? Thirty minutes?" So I replied, "Oh maybe only three minutes." He gave me back the receipt and instructed me to go to Room 16 and another guy will come.

Ok, I went to Room 16 and there were a lot of ladies waiting. I asked one lady beside me what we were waiting for and she said she doesn't know. After another hour, a man came with papers in hand. He called names and luckily, I was one of them. Then we went to Room 18 to sign in their logbook and was given instructions to go to the last building and present the paper, the receipt with Arabic written on it, a photocopy of our passport and visa, and one photo...and be ready to pay Dhs 135.

So we went to the last building and gave all the requirements to this lady. I was called to pay the Dhs 135 after about 45 minutes. I checked my watch and it was already past 11 am. I thought I could probably be back in the office at 1 or past 1 pm.

I left the Traffic Office at almost 2 pm! Actually, I was the last soul waiting for my driver's license. Apparently, they had technical problems. The network had problems and the printer won't print. Hence, the loooooong wait.

Anyways, I reached home before 2:15 pm. Just in time for lunch.

Good experience? I'd say compare to others, mine would rate to be a very, very good! Some women with me had to take more than 2 tries before they passed the test. A friend of mine failed her first try because the instructor she got was very strict. Now, she's scheduled to take her second try on August 20.

Getting a UAE driver's license can be easy or difficult, depending on how the facilitators want you to get one. I had a hard time getting approval on my application but it was a breeze to past the test. My friend had a breeze getting her application approved but failed on her driving test the first time. Some are having a worse experience! Was it luck on my part? I think my prayers helped...big time!

Inconsistencies Can Be Confusing

There is an Islamic law that prohibits men from wearing gold and silk. The article that follows was extracted from Gulf News, one of UAE's leading newspaper. I'm just wondering why this Islamic law is only enforced in Sharjah. It seems that the United Arab of Emirates is not united in this particular law at all.



Sharjah Police Enforce Old Law Against Men Wearing Accessories
By Bassma Al Jandaly, Staff Reporter (Gulf News)
Published: July 21, 2009, 22:45


Sharjah: Thirteen-year-old Mohammad was with a group of friends in Al Qasba area when he was reportedly approached by a police officer and taken to the police headquarters. His silver necklace had to go.

Another resident, Jeril Jaison Varghese, says he was in front of the Multiplex in Mega Mall to watch a movie when a CID officer asked him for his identification.

"I was taken to the Sharjah Police office inside the mall by a security guy from the mall. My silver bracelet was confiscated by the CID," he said.

When Varghese asked why his bracelet was being taken away, he says, police said men are not allowed to wear bracelets or any fashion accessories in Sharjah malls even if it is silver and not gold.

"When did this rule come into being? There was no public notification and no posters in the mall notifying people of this rule," Varghese said. Another resident said on Saturday CID confiscated his friend's silver bracelet while they were in a mall.

"Is there a rule in Sharjah that authorises the CID to confiscate fashion accessories other than gold from residents and their children from malls?" asked Aji Alexander.

A Mexican mother who recently shifted to the UAE and is now living in Sharjah said her 14-year-old son was scared when he was stopped by police who shouted at him for wearing diamond earrings.

"Police were rude... We have no clue that such things are not allowed here," the mother said. "I am not allowing my son to go to Al Qasba again. My son is a very decent and polite boy," she said.

"If people are not offending the laws of the country and are not acting like women by wearing such accessories so why are police taking such action?" she asked.

Mohammad from Sudan said his 18-year old nephew who came from Abu Dhabi to visit his grandmother in Sharjah was taken last week to the headquarters for wearing a silver necklace.

"The boy was afraid. He was standing in front of his grandmother's house when police took him to the CID. After three hours he contacted us," said Mohammad. Residents said Sharjah authorities should inform people who wish to come here that men must not wear fashion accessories.

"Tourist companies should inform the public. Information booklets should be handed to people at the country's entry points. They should advertise that in all malls and entertainment areas such as Al Qasba which we believe are safe places for our children to spend time," said a resident.

"We are aware of the decency law in Sharjah, but wearing silver bracelets, necklaces, or even earrings in a decent way is not against the law," said a resident.

A senior CID official told Gulf News that police are implementing an eight-year-old decency law.

"Men are not allowed to wear such accessories. Everybody is aware of that," he said. "We are informing people through the media and people should be aware of that," he said.

Islam forbids men from wearing gold and silk.

The Emirati

Hussain is in his 50s and a regular visitor of our office. He only comes whenever his new utilities bill arrives. He is an Emirati and a dear friend of my boss ever since they were kids. They practically grew up together. I suspect Hussain is using their friendship to get money from my boss to pay his utilities bill.

My boss, being a sheikh, is naturally well-off compared to Hussain. I don't know much about his background since we don't really talk. He doesn't speak English, for one thing. What I heard from my boss was he has a son who is now working and making lots of money. He refuses to give him money because of this. Besides, Hussain can always ask his son to pay his bill. Old habits die hard, I guess.

But today, he was forced to talk to me because the Indian office boy who knows a little Arabic went out to pray and my boss' personal assistant was on leave. The only people left were the receptionist and myself.

He went to me and gave me a copy of his SEWA (Sharjah Electricity & Water Authority) bill for the month of June. He said (and this much I understood) that Ijaz (the office driver) asked for the original as instructed by my boss and so Hussain showed me the original bill but gave me a photocopy. What I understood from him was he needs the original to pay SEWA that's why he can only give me the photocopy. That's his only business for coming to our office so he could've left right away but, he has this reputation of lingering and talking incessantly.

Talking to him was stressful. I felt like I needed to decode the words that came out of his mouth and make sense of it all. He was looking for my boss' PA and I told him that she is sick. To this he said, "I pray her [his hand pointing to her desk], Inshallah!" So I said thank you. Then he got his phone and showed me the picture of his son in a car (all grown up and working now), and another picture of his son holding a baby girl. He said that she is his "grandson-girl." Next he showed me the picture of my boss and he said that he is his friend. He kissed his phone three times and told me to tell my boss "many salam salam." Salam means "hello" in Arabic.

Before he left, he said again "Photocopy give you" and so I said "Yes, I have the photocopy." Then he said "You believe me I give you photocopy." I replied with "Of course, I believe you! I'm holding it, look!"

If I have recorded our conversation and let you hear it, you'll probably feel frustrated because of the jumbled words, his sense of distrust to you, and how it goes around in circles.

I just wanted him to leave me so I told him to come back tomorrow so he can speak with the PA and I will give her the photocopy. Then he said, "Susan, you are nice. You will help me, ok, please?" Naturally, I said yes. Then he kept repeating he always prays for my boss and he will pray for the PA. He told me if I help him, the One above will bless me. He kept ranting with these things and I just nodded my head and say thank you...just so he would already leave!

Finally, he stood up and headed to the door. He paused and said thank you and "Tomorrow." I said, "Yes, tomorrow." He walked away and after a few steps came back. This time, he was asking me to call the office boy. I told him I don't know his number. From the look on his face, I'd say he thought I didn't understand him. He was starting to sound upset and kept saying telephone number and pointing to the office pantry. I asked him "You want Waqas' number?" He grumbled with "Uhh." So I told him "I don't know." He got upset again. This went on a couple of times more. To end it, I told him to just come back tomorrow. He mentioned that he'll have dialysis tomorrow and "call me" and was pointing to the pantry. I just nodded and kept saying yes to everything he said.

Finally, he left.

I don't really understand those kind of local people. The government gives them allowance. When an Emirati works for the government, he is even given a plot of land and an allowance to build himself a house. He is given two years to build the house or else he forfeits the land and the allowance. Never will you see a local here living in the streets. They are well-kept by the government. They get all sorts of allowances. It was reported that the locals comprise only 20% of the entire UAE population. The rest are expats (Arab expats, Indians, Westerners, and other Asians). The expats work their butt off and pay all sorts of fees for the benefit of the locals. Then I see people like him asking for charity.

Will my boss give him money to pay his bill? Not right away. Eventually, yes. How about my salary? He'll release it when he wants to. It's been over two months now since I got my Feb-09 salary and I'm still wondering when I'll get my next pay check!

24/7...NOT!

How can you say a business runs 24/7 when they still close on a specific hour?

Maybe this only happens in Sharjah so I don't know about the other emirates. There's a big supermarket chain in UAE called Spinneys. The branch along King Faisal Road claims they are open 24/7. BUT they close on Fridays at 12 nn and resumes at 1:30 pm.

You only happen to know this by accident. There is no signage that says they close every Friday on that specific time. Why? Because it is a given that you know it is the Muslims' holy hour of prayer. They just advertise the shop is open 24/7. So, if you're new and need to make a quick trip to the grocery, you'll be in bad luck. Then again, even if you're an old timer who never needed to shop on Fridays, you'll probably never know...until!

Misleading. Very.

What to do, yani? Go with the (inefficient) flow?

Cannibals?!?

Every Friday after church service and whenever possible, I attend what the group calls OG or Outreach Group. It's a born-again Christian activity and I attend the meeting even if I'm a Catholic.

In one of the meetings, after discussing the Bible, the group leader shared what he heard in his office (he works at DNATA, a travel service company owned by Emirates Airlines which was recently bought by Etihad Airlines). He said that there was news about a Chinese family living in International City kidnapping a Bangladeshi. They chopped his body and ate it.

Interestingly, just a month before, I also heard a similar incident from this Indian guy in the same group who has a friend at the police department (that police was in-charge of getting the fingerprints). He said that he went to visit a friend who was in jail and before going home, had a chat with his police friend. The police said that they heard a report of another Asian living in Karama, Dubai who called an electrician and a Pakistani came over. The family chopped him up, ate him, and stored the other pieces in the freezer.

It seems like the practice of cannibalism is coming back. The scarier part is, this kind of story is not supposed to get published and it never will because it will scare off tourists and expats. But what about people already living in Dubai? They need to be aware so they can be cautious. I live in Sharjah which is an emirate adjacent to Dubai but it doesn't mean the cannibals only live in Dubai...they can recruit people from anywhere.

How will authorities protect people from this kind of unawareness?

UAE Driver's License Signal Tests

In continuation to yesterday's experience, I woke up early this morning to get to the Sharjah Police HQ to take my test.

I got there at about 9:30 am and gave my papers to an Emirati lady requesting that I take the test today. She asked me if I have the handbook and I said yes so I asked again if I can take the test today and she said no and to come back on Sunday. I asked maybe it's possible today and she said again no. This afternoon? Again, no. I begged that I take the test today because I am ready to take the test. She spoke to another Emirati and they were talking in Arabic and she came back to me to say ok and pointing told me to go to room number eight. I said my thanks and went where she pointed. I couldn't see room #8. I saw men's waiting room and it was full and a sign saying "Gate 4." I came back to her and said I'm sorry I couldn't find room #8. She smiled and turned to another Emirati and they giggled and turned to me and pointing to the same direction she said that I go to room #19.

I finally found it, it was the small room on the corner with a sign saying testing room. I knocked once and opened the door. I saw a wall full of traffic signs, chairs, a desk at the end of the room with a police officer facilitating an oral exam to a lady wearing an abaya. When he saw me, he said that I wait outside.

So, I waited outside and reviewed my traffic signs. A few minutes later, the lady in the abaya went out and I proceeded inside. The police got my paper and made me sit facing the wall of traffic signs. He had a switch board to his left and turned on the light to a traffic sign. He asked me what it was and I said no-entry. This went on for a few moments, he was lighting different traffic signs at random. Maybe after ten traffic signs, he signed my papers, said good, and instructed me to go to the cashier.

The whole test took only less than five minutes! And to think that the girl wanted me to come another day for this. It was costing me Dhs 17 each way and to someone who is only getting her salary every five months, this is expensive!

Anyways, I proceeded to the cashier and paid Dhs 65 and I was scheduled to come back on the 29th at 9 am for my actual driving test. I am so relieved I got that out of the way!

Again, the saga continues....