Tag: expats

When the going gets hot, the hot go to #Dubai Sports World

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The Summer heat in Dubai was making my weekly tennis matches a game more of perseverance, attrition, and stupidity than fun or skill.

Rather than migrate to the air-conditioned squash court, a friend found a good tennis deal going at Dubai Sports World.  To be clear, it is on planet Earth between June 21 and August 21, in a large hall of the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre. It’s where they bring outdoor sporting activities indoors into the luxury of enjoyable temperatures – thanks to our good friend, air-conditioning.

This massive arena offers a wealth of sporting facilities for all ages, including academies and tournaments.

– Dubai Calendar, http://www.dubaicalendar.ae/en/event/events/
dubai-sports-world-2013.html (accessed 18 July 2013)

I was aware of the place through my running club using the facilities from last year.  Though, like a naughty student cutting class, I never attended.  Coincidentally, on Tuesday evening this week when I went as part of a tennis foursome, the Striders happened to be doing their speed session. A few seemed to have a gaze of “Hey, isn’t that that guy, what’shisname?” Or it could have been my imagination.

As I walked into Dubai Sports World, I was very impressed that such a massive, fun-filled facility exists. In Dubai’s regular July-August climate of  35+ degrees outside, it’s crucial to have something like this available.  And it was encouraging to see how many people made use of it, rather than doing nothing with the excuse it’s just too hot.

DSW supports a large variety of sports and wellness activities. From what I couldn’t help but see, there was a preference for activities popular with very fit and attractive females.

At our regular tennis game, we’d see no one – except maybe an occasional compound kid wanting to play with one of our tennis balls.  Here, under one big roof, there were complete tribes of active Dubai residents everywhere doing their thang.

Actually, for the four of us, it became a little distracting.  In fact, with our wives away for the standard Summer break, we may be more comfortable telling our wives that we’ve been drinking all night at various seedy bars rather than share the actual jewel of a venue we’ve discovered and enjoyed.

See you next week!

Dubai touch footy

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I played a game of touch footy this evening as a fill-in. The conditions were superb. So the weather was almost the opposite of two nights ago when I went for a run to the Burj Al Arab and back. That night I returned possibly three kilograms lighter from loss of fluids.
Contradictory to this statement, I was actually running quite strong cause throughout the run I really had to find a bathroom. Dubai is not the kind of place to “go bush”. And the longer I was running, the more urgently I required the finish line. I was definitely running negative splits toward the homeward stretch.

Touch footy, Dubai style is the same as at home – except you generally need a litre more sweat. It’s one of those activities in a country of expats where you see the usual suspects. Just walking to the field you hear the clear accents of the Aussies/Kiwis, South Africans and British. In fact I made the comment that there were probably only four nationalities on show. The very next second, one of our own team joyously arrived for the game speaking with a distinctive German accent. Woops, there I go making generalisations again.

Acceptance

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The other day, in the face of a total lack of logic I found myself not willing to argue, disagree, or even comment. Instead I just accepted it as a standard Dubai thing I have grown accustomed to. It got me thinking of all the things in Dubai that we’ve found to be very different to what we grew to expect in Australia, but have grown used to. This isn’t meant to be a rant and rave about how things back home are better. It’s not the issue.

I just think it’s interesting how some things we get used to quite quickly and easily. Others I don’t think I’ll ever get used to.

The following is no where near exhaustive, but it’s a list of some of the key differences I can recall that we’ve encountered, and just how long it’s taken us to accept or get used to them.

Different thing How long before we got used to it
A total lack of logic or common sense in some people and processes Around six weeks – although it still raises a wry smile at times
Driving on the right-hand side of the road 1 – 2 weeks from driving, although still getting used to this in car parks. Driving again on left side took more than two weeks to revert back
Driving in a crazy scary fashion A good six months to learn what to expect. And from my parents’ feedback when they holidayed here, it took me less than seven months to start driving the same way.
No household recycling Throwing paper in the regular bin took couple of weeks, but still feels strange to throw cans in the trash
Kids jumping around in the back seat not wearing seatbelts Not used to it yet, and I’m sure it’ll always haunt me
Prevalence of hired help at home 3-4 months – but couldn’t get it myself
Being able to get literally anything home delivered 2 months, and it’s disappointing that everywhere else doesn’t do this
Not being able to show affection in public Immediately off the plane, I know a few guys that are jealous of this
Working week starts on a Sunday At least three months – but still occasionally refer to the week’s end as Friday, and tell work mates I’ll see them on Monday
Massive height of the Burj Dubai Around nine months. It’s a good sign I’ve been here more than a little while, cause it honestly doesn’t look that big.
Massive proportion of luxury cars Four months, but some cars will still revert me to a 12 year old when I spot them
Often seeing two guys, always just friends, holding hands 2-3 months before it seemed normal, but it continues to shock when I see them holding hands while walking into a public toilet

Cricket in UAE schools

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Cricket is already the second  National sport of the United Arab Emirates, but only due to the expats. It would be nice to see more interest from Nationals.

“Cricket should be introduced and encouraged in all schools of the UAE”

Kapil Dev goes out to bat for cricket at UAE schools – The National Newspaper (17 May 2009)

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090517/NATIONAL/705169814/1100/SPORT