man, I just spent the last 6 hours. . .
couldnt have been that long, could it?!?!?!?
at Yafooli's. Almost every time I go it turns into an all night affair where I am invited to eat and/or drink something. I meet someone new, talk about the culture here or where I am from among other things. We laugh,joke, and talk. My old friend with Alzhiemers usually shows up and gives us more laughs. I dont know half of what he says but hes like an old grandfather. Sometimes he remembers me. At other times he does not. Either way, its cool and I enjoy the company of everyone I meet there.
Sometimes I wonder what preconceived notions people come here with, and if those notions are the reason why they dont like it or only have negative things to say. I skimmed a post that was almost painful to read and wondered what Utopia this person moved from and why they left it.
May I reiterate that no place is perfect.
And may I also say (if I havent already), that to compare service workers here to slavery is an insult to my ancestors who were once (actual) slaves. There is a stark difference and even though it may be hard to believe, many of them have better living conditions than if they were to stay at home. This is much more comparable to endentured servitude in which one can put themselves into as well as take themselves out after an amount of time or money is paid in full.
I could go into the variations of slavery based on country of practice but that really has nothing to do with the purpose of this blog. And for reader purposes I shall clarify that I am speaking of slavery practiced in America as it is the one most are familiar with for many different reasons.
anywho. I am tired beyond belief and am going to bed with the pleasure of knowing that I have met more people who are very nice, who are open to me as a person to the point where we can discuss race,culture,and religion. People who are genuinely nice and who will also help me to learn more Arabic words ;P.
GOODNITE
couldnt have been that long, could it?!?!?!?
at Yafooli's. Almost every time I go it turns into an all night affair where I am invited to eat and/or drink something. I meet someone new, talk about the culture here or where I am from among other things. We laugh,joke, and talk. My old friend with Alzhiemers usually shows up and gives us more laughs. I dont know half of what he says but hes like an old grandfather. Sometimes he remembers me. At other times he does not. Either way, its cool and I enjoy the company of everyone I meet there.
Sometimes I wonder what preconceived notions people come here with, and if those notions are the reason why they dont like it or only have negative things to say. I skimmed a post that was almost painful to read and wondered what Utopia this person moved from and why they left it.
May I reiterate that no place is perfect.
And may I also say (if I havent already), that to compare service workers here to slavery is an insult to my ancestors who were once (actual) slaves. There is a stark difference and even though it may be hard to believe, many of them have better living conditions than if they were to stay at home. This is much more comparable to endentured servitude in which one can put themselves into as well as take themselves out after an amount of time or money is paid in full.
I could go into the variations of slavery based on country of practice but that really has nothing to do with the purpose of this blog. And for reader purposes I shall clarify that I am speaking of slavery practiced in America as it is the one most are familiar with for many different reasons.
anywho. I am tired beyond belief and am going to bed with the pleasure of knowing that I have met more people who are very nice, who are open to me as a person to the point where we can discuss race,culture,and religion. People who are genuinely nice and who will also help me to learn more Arabic words ;P.
GOODNITE
Okay, when (if) I come to Abu Dhabi, I totally want to visit Yafooli's. You've mentioned it a couple of times, and I'm kind of envious!
ReplyDeleteAs to the slavery thing - I agree with you. Situations are quite quite different. My ancestors were quite often in situations like the non-native employees in the UAE, poor wages compared to the nationals and/or "ruling" class, but far better than they could have found at home. Nothing at all like slavery as experienced in the US in the 19th century.