I recall, years ago, I used to look at the map of the world and think about where I would want to live if I moved. I had thought about where that would be but I could never find just the right place. Now I find myself in the desert in the middle east. I thought it would be the last place I would ever want to live but I am finding out that it’s actually a place that I am really enjoying. Granted it could be a honeymoon phase right now but I have connected with good friends here who I knew back home and they have helped make the experience excellent.
Driving here is something that one must experience to understand. I can say that a few years of demolition derby racing has helped. There are a road rules but they are loosely interpreted and you must have nerves of steel to survive. The rules are simple, merge without signaling and stay out of the fast lane unless you are going fast! Commuting to work hovers around 100 MPH. Use of turn signals are a sign of weakness so never tip your hand. Those 100mph speeds are common and that’s slow for some drivers.
I know some of you are thinking, if it’s so good why don’t you just stay there…hmm..maybe.
I am told “Just wait until the heat comes, then we will see if you like it so much here”. Heat?….Let us define heat shall we? It’s 125 degrees in the daytime and a cool crisp 95-100 in the evening. This is coupled with the occasional sandstorm that fills the air with enough dust to block the sun so much that you can look directly at it and see it without hurting your eyes. I can tell you the sun is not as much a yellow ball of fire but it’s more of a brilliant white with a very distinct edge…ask me how I know.
Dining…The restaurants here are really good. Not only is the quality of the food outstanding, the table service is superb. It really leaves me not wanting to return to American dining because of the typical poor service, bad mannerisms of most wait staff and less than excellent food. In the U.S. we deal in volume and cattle call like engagements when dining out. Here, it’s about enjoying your meal and conversation with friends and family when dining out. There’s never a rush and the seating isn’t like the seating found in the U.S. I am not huge but I am far from a beanpole. My experience when dining out in the U.S. is that the booths SUCK in most eateries and they are cramped. After I have eaten, I can’t wait to get out of the place because of crappy table seating. Don’t think for a second that this isn’t planned. I am sure it is. I have yet to find a crappy cramped booth where only a child would be comfortably seated.
Am I jaded, yes. Have I been cranky about these things before I left, yes. Have I discovered a place where good service still exists in a place where it isn’t about volume sales? Yes. Why is the concept of quality so hard to grasp in America?
Rowland Ramble - 