Another 30 days...

So with all this distraction of employment over the past 2 weeks or so, I completely forgot that I needed to renew my visa-it expired on day one of my job. So, yesterday (that's day 2 of employment) I took the morning off to drive to Oman to renew it. The giant and I went downstairs to Costa coffee to get a coffee and mini muffins for the road and I saw my former life. Ladies sitting in the cafe with their other lady of leisure friends saying "which muffin do you want- no I'll get it today, you get it tomorrow". Oh, how that used to me. But times they do and must change.

So off we went to Oman. On the way, we were pulled over at about 3 check points with men with guns and skin coloured toyota landcruisers where we had to show our passports. As I think I've said before, its quite an amazing drive- you go from the tall high rises of Dubai, to flat desert, to hilly desert to rocky mountains. We stopped for some petrol and some refreshments and we were on our way. I thought this photo shows a nice contrast and a good advertisment for the region's greatest export. After taking the wrong turn, then making a u-turn (someone can't read signs) and driving through little business areas, we made it to the Oman border building that I had been to so many times before. I was busting to go to the toilet but thought I would hold on, because I had been to these toilets before and there was no way I was going to relive the experience and especially because I had forgotten my baby wipes today. But hold on no longer could I. I had to do it. I thought about the 1cm of water all over the floor and the stench from the pit toilet, but still I had to take the plunge. So I quickly made my way to the where the toilet was. There was a 'female' sign above the doorway and where the door once was, there was concrete. Many things went through my mind as to why this was so, then a little man sitting inside a door stuck his hand out and pointed to the door right next door. No sign on the door, just a door to an office, or so it seemed. When I opened the door, there was white marble as far as the eye could see with modern sinks and about 10 toilets. A far cry from its former poorer cousin. I was impressed, in fact blown away. I thought of the old posse when we used to drive up here, and how i had to text them immediately to tell them of the upgrade. All well and good, but not a scerick of toilet paper or paper tissue to be seen, it was either the hose or drip dry. Overall, a nice ambience, but a let down with no paper product. You lost one star on this rating.

So I was stamped in and out in about a minute and got back into the car with the giant to head back to the motherland. That felt good. "I can stay in Dubai for another 30 days" I said which was met with the literal and legal phrases of the giant of "well we're not stamped back into the UAE yet, that's still a kilometre away- so officially we aren't done and dusted. I treat the process with respect". Ah tis ying and yang- isn't that what they say or 'the giant and the pixie'?

As we headed back to Dubai, I couldn't help but think of my mum as we went through about a kilometre of terracotta vendors. She would go crazy, and especially now that that the pizza oven and entertaining area in our backyard is now complete.

So I hopped off to work at about 12:30pm, no dream, no cardigan (that's a Miley Cyrus lyric or those of you who aren't in the know). Foggy shoes, sandy toes, you know the drill. I was greeted about a billion times by men with smiles and a few payouts, that I of course dished back. See I told you it feels like I have been working there for ages. I only found out that I am the third woman in the workplace and the men are rather enjoying having us ladies around. I walked past the research area and thought I knew those tunes- and indeed I did for they were christmas carols. I didn't see the man playing them, but apparently he's got the whole set up going-we will need to become friends. Spent the afternoon calling people the wrong names, and remember names such as Sharmaa- because its like 'Shwarma' (which is the word for kebab) without the 'w'. I turn everything into food.