I have a category on blog called language fails where write posts about funny language related episodes I’ve been a part of or come across, however there has been a particular series I’ve wanted to write about for some time now. This series has all to do with my experience of working with Brazilians and … Continue reading »
In the previous post of this series I spoke about the fact that Raquel and I have made a decision and taken a risk which will change our lives from this point onwards. However the decisions taken were taken after considering all our options and considering the impact that these decisions would have on our … Continue reading »
There is one thing I’m absolutely useless in and that is keeping track of how much things cost. Raquel is my price checker when it comes food and most household items. The truth is I’m used to being an expat where most of expenses are paid for by my company that my brain automatically refuses … Continue reading »
In 2009 when I moved to Abu Dhabi I made a promise that I was not going to be one of those expats who move to a country and complain incessantly about it. I promised myself I would make the most of country and whatever it had to offer. I saw my lack of adaptation … Continue reading »
In twenty six days I get on a lovely toy plane SA Airlink and fly to South Africa for my first Christmas home in the last three Christmases. To say I’m looking forward to it, is an understatement of enormous proportions.
The ongoing protracted civil war in Libya; Contact from a friend who escapred the violence in Libya; Misadventure in the Middle East by Henry Hemming and simply reminiscing about my travels has me thinking about the Middle East and North Africa again. The two years and a couple of months spent living in two different … Continue reading »
In the haze of orange and strawberry flavoured smoke, in a shisha café hidden between the residential towers of Khalidya, Blackberry Bill looks up from his BB and asks ‘Have you ever spoken to a black person?’ followed by billowing smoke. Yet again his BB provides him with the ammunition to attack my South African … Continue reading »
**I’m in South Africa at the moment and finished smoking a shisha while chatting to my parents about Abu Dhabi. That made me quite nostalgic about the city, so I’ve decide to repost something I wrote about the place when I found out I was leaving, July 2009** I shall soon leave Abu Dhabi for … Continue reading »
Before I actually tell this story, I am going to apologise to a few of my friends who when reading the title will no doubt be thinking ‘Not this story again!!!!’ I had just finished watching an Arabic adaptation of Richard III and was standing by a taxi-stop waiting for a taxi to take me … Continue reading »
It has been a strange Ramadan for me this year as it doesn’t actually feel like Ramadan. Why? Well I’ll give you my Ramadan experience from Abu Dhabi and then describe my experience so far here in Libya, to provide a better understanding to the statement I made.
Today, the holy month of Ramadan starts for Muslims all over the world. I’m not going to describe what Ramadan is, as most people who are reading this can click on the hyperlinked word and find out for themselves. Experiencing Ramadan is nothing new to me. My first experience of Ramadan was when I moved to … Continue reading »
Early this week a colleague from the administrative department came to me and gave me good news. I’m moving house. My current three housemates and I were being moved from our favela in Janzour to a nice compound (with pool and tennis court) where another 16 of our colleagues live. This move is my seventh since … Continue reading »
Two weeks into my Abu Dhabi experience, I was stupid enough to leave my wallet in taxi on my way to work. I only realized this when I got to the door of the office at which time the driver was long gone, with my wallet in the car. Not only did my wallet contain … Continue reading »
I had just finished posting about my weekend trip back to South Africa to watch the world cup I read this post about what home is to the nomad. For me this was a really thought-provoking post as when I read it, I had to really think about the meaning of home. What or Where is … Continue reading »
