May 26, 2013

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7 things I love about Dubai

January 19, 2012 by 17 Comments

After two years of getting to know Dubai from the inside out, I have finally moved on with mixed emotions and a perspective that I feel most people may never get to truly appreciate. I offer you 7 lesser-known reasons why Dubai is truly a great place, whether you believe it or not.

Blood-Orange Saturated Sunsets

Come to Dubai if you want to see a giant blood-orange sun dipping into the Arabian gulf. For that miraculous moment, witness an interplay of rich magentas and oranges bring time to a standstill in the thick and quiet air which only defers to a polyphony of adhans, the Islamic call to prayer that will impregnate the heavy air. To some it is a religious experience. For anyone else, it is a matter of reflecting on how the sultry aura of the gulf will make your spirit feel. It can be. incredibly. relaxing. [Read more...]

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How I ditched 1,200 Facebook friends and lived to tell about it

December 23, 2011 by 1 Comment

Being an expat today isn’t what it used to be at all.

With a good smartphone we carry an entire social circle in our front pocket. The other day it dawned on me that I might be somewhat “cheating” as an expat because of this technological advantage. In the darker years, expats who didn’t have their social circle to summon with the flick of a finger became pressed to socialize in any way they could muster and this natural tension probably lead to the kind of social adaptation that leads to proper cultural assimilation.

[Read more...]

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6 amazing meals that probably never made it to your “Middle Eastern” restaurant

December 15, 2011 by Leave a Comment

One of the greatest things about relocating to a larger-than-life destination is that there is always so much more to discover underneath the surface when you get there.

Living in the states, I had become quite familiar with the fare in “Middle Eastern” restaurants, not realizing that in many parts of the Arab and Muslim world, what we call “Arabic ” or “Middle Eastern” food actually comes from a quite specific area, sometimes denoted as the Levant, or even simply referred to as Lebanese cuisine. For example, I was shocked when first moving to Morocco, in discovering that it’s not that easy to find hummos out on the street. It’s because the Ottoman Empire grip never quite reached that far. [Read more...]

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5 online methods for tuning into the “nerdy cultural” scene in your host country

December 14, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Many expats happen to live in wonderful countries, countries with jobs that pay decently– countries that in many cases are often culturally mysterious, inaccessible or closed beyond a certain playing ground you’ve been alloted.

This, however, is no excuse to just sit at home and play cards with your compatriots.

Within some of the most culturally impenetrable countries,  you will find dynamic groups of people who are sociable, multicultural, open and fun. Even greater, these groups often consist of members on both the inside and outside of that host culture who will help you venture towards a deeper experience.  They rally around book clubs, culture, technology or art. The most influential members within these groups are perceived as hilarious, wise and institutional. You should probably get to know these people. [Read more...]

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Are you an algorithm?

December 9, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The conscientious expat will, from time to time, purge toxic thoughts which accumulate over time. It’s only inevitable and all together normal that one would harbor less than positive thoughts about your host country.

Difference can be infuriating, as they say.

Having recently moved to Lebanon with a slightly bad knee cap which was dislocated twice playing basketball 7 and 8 years ago, it would only be a matter of minutes until I encountered the manic driving habits and optional traffic lights of Lebanon (and in good times, the snow-capped mountains, the cedars and the beautiful women, of course). [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asia, feature