Warning - This is probably of interest only to those who appreciate good design or gadgets.
It's true. Little things make me happy and especially when it is a seemingly little thing but one that makes a big difference to me, and one for which I would love to shake the hand of the person that thought it up.
On my old Blackberry, if a call came in while I was listening to my cell phone voicemail, the device would treat it like any other call waiting call and give me the option to ignore it, place the first call on hold and answer, or drop the first call and answer.
I got a new Blackberry Curve (8300) a few months ago and the other day while listening to my voicemail, another call came in. The device did not, however, treat it as a call waiting call, but rather as a regular call with no options for the first call. Since it was a call I wanted to take, I answered, assuming that it would just disconnect my voicemail session.
When finished with the call that had come in, I noticed that my voicemail call was still there in a suspended state. I resumed the call and the message I had been listening to started again from exactly where I had left off.
What this means is that someone at RIM got together with someone at AT&T and said, "Hey, how can we make this easier and more intuitive for the user?" Bravo!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Anjelica's Maracas
Sam just started fourth grade. I have distinct memories of my own fourth grade experience, that being the turning point for me when I realized that I didn't hate girls, but was strangely attracted to them yet I didn't know why. I was expecting something similar of Sam, though he has never gone through a "I hate girls" stage and is, instead, friendly with many of his female classmates.
On the first day of school last week, Sam told us that his friend Anjelica came up to him and very matter of factly announced that she was wearing a bra. Sam related this story in a somewhat puzzled manner because he had no idea how he was supposed to react or what to do with this information. He was truly bewildered and we were more than just a bit amused by the situation.
A couple of days later, Sam was telling us about music class, and how all the students were using different percussion instruments. I jokingly asked if Anjelica was shaking her maracas. This reference went right over his head and he simply responded that Anjelica is not in his music class. Seven-year old Molly, however, got it right away and started giggling. Ever since, she turns to Sammy every so often and while doing a top-body shimmy, asks if Anjelica has been shaking her maracas at him.
What have I created?
On the first day of school last week, Sam told us that his friend Anjelica came up to him and very matter of factly announced that she was wearing a bra. Sam related this story in a somewhat puzzled manner because he had no idea how he was supposed to react or what to do with this information. He was truly bewildered and we were more than just a bit amused by the situation.
A couple of days later, Sam was telling us about music class, and how all the students were using different percussion instruments. I jokingly asked if Anjelica was shaking her maracas. This reference went right over his head and he simply responded that Anjelica is not in his music class. Seven-year old Molly, however, got it right away and started giggling. Ever since, she turns to Sammy every so often and while doing a top-body shimmy, asks if Anjelica has been shaking her maracas at him.
What have I created?
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Report from Dubai - Day Three/Final Report
I forgot to mention in my last post that part of the conversation last night was around Arab-American perspectives. I was told that Arabs used to love going to the US for vacations but since 9/11 they have, for the most part, not returned due to the way that they were being treated. They found that they were being reported as suspicious simply for speaking Arabic in public. They also said that one of the reasons Muslim women would not fly was because they knew that some US airports employed x-ray machines that revealed a woman’s body. Not only did I state that I knew of no such devices in use, one of the physicians backed me up saying that such a machine would provide a view of a skeleton and any metal objects, but that the form of the body could not be discerned. The person who originally made the statement was suspicious about our responses and we quickly moved on to another topic.
This third and last day of my trip to Dubai was by far the best, and it had less to do with the conference than what transpired afterwards. Yes, I did have some good meetings including with the Saudi German Hospitals Group – the largest private healthcare company in the Middle East and North Africa – and two wonderful people from Jebel Ali Hospital with whom I then had lunch at the same Iranian restaurant in the hotel as where I had dinner last night (dinner was better, though I did get to have some very tasty Iranian desserts at lunch). But the invitation to visit a hospital and the subsequent dinner was the highlight.
I had initially pegged Zulekha Hospital as a potential target, but I came to realize that they really wanted just to pick my brain about some things that they were considering and to get some education on a particular area of my expertise. That was fine because what I got in return was worth it.
The tour of the hospital covered just about every inch of the facility. They are very proud of this 80-bed private hospital and the mission that it serves – and rightly so. Lead by the IT director and the director of the hospital, we saw the outpatient departments, the clinical laboratory, registration/admitting, the emergency department, patient rooms, nursing stations, the pharmacy, one of the operating rooms and the cardiac catheterization lab. It was a rare opportunity to get such an in-depth peek at a foreign hospital and being a hospital person, I not only enjoyed it all, but learned much about how healthcare is delivered in this country in the process, including a very different role for pharmacists than those that work in hospitals in the US. We then spent about an hour looking over their impressive IT infrastructure and the self-developed hospital information system that they have implemented. In that process I also learned all about the payment and reimbursement process in the country – also invaluable. We then had a long discussion about CPOE and closed loop medication processes (I don’t expect you to know what that is, and there is no simple way to explain it) with the director of the hospital, the chief pharmacist, another administrator and a physician. I figure that I gave them about an hour or two of free consulting but it was worth it given what I learned during my time there. It was positively delightful as they were so proud to show off their hospital to a knowledgeable and appreciative audience.
I should mention at this point that approximately 40% of the population of the UAE is Indian, as were all of the people that I was with, and it is this population that the hospital primarily serves. Dr. Zulekha, the founder and owner of the now two-hospital company which is also expanding in the UAE and into India, is an OB/GYN who started practicing in the early 1960’s, delivering babies by lantern light as their mothers arrived by camel. She went on to start a primary care clinic and eventually decided that high-quality, reasonably priced healthcare was needed by the Indian population so she started the hospital to serve them, with a strong focus on the patient experience. While she is still involved, her daughter and son-in-law now run the company.
In gratitude for my time, Ali – the late 20-something IT director – then took me out for one of the best meals I’ve ever had. I have always maintained that some of the best food can be found in dives and the place we went can only be described as a stand-up luncheonette counter outside a supermarket in one of the Indian sections of town. Ali just kept ordering different things, some of which I knew of, others I didn’t recognize and couldn’t pronounce so I can’t tell you what they were except that they were, for the most part, fried, spicy and delicious. Ali just kept saying “try this,” “hold it this way,” (everything was eaten by hand), “dip it in this sauce and then in this sauce,” etc. As I was still in my suit and it was about 100 degrees and humid – even in the dark of evening – he kept plying me with water and napkins with which to wipe my head. I think the whole meal cost about $7 for both of us.
It was a very nice way to wrap up my trip here. Had I known, I certainly would have stayed longer as I did not get to see most of the tourist sights and I am told that one of the best things to do is a late day 4X4 ride into the desert to a Bedouin tent where there is live music, belly dancing, camel rides and a feast fit for a king as you watch the sunset. If I come back, I will definitely try that experience. In the mean time, it is off to bed with a satisfied belly and then to the airport in the morning for the long journey home. All in all, it was a short but successful (I hope – the truth will be told in whether my meetings convert to signed contracts) trip to a strange and far off land to which I hope to someday return.
This third and last day of my trip to Dubai was by far the best, and it had less to do with the conference than what transpired afterwards. Yes, I did have some good meetings including with the Saudi German Hospitals Group – the largest private healthcare company in the Middle East and North Africa – and two wonderful people from Jebel Ali Hospital with whom I then had lunch at the same Iranian restaurant in the hotel as where I had dinner last night (dinner was better, though I did get to have some very tasty Iranian desserts at lunch). But the invitation to visit a hospital and the subsequent dinner was the highlight.
I had initially pegged Zulekha Hospital as a potential target, but I came to realize that they really wanted just to pick my brain about some things that they were considering and to get some education on a particular area of my expertise. That was fine because what I got in return was worth it.
The tour of the hospital covered just about every inch of the facility. They are very proud of this 80-bed private hospital and the mission that it serves – and rightly so. Lead by the IT director and the director of the hospital, we saw the outpatient departments, the clinical laboratory, registration/admitting, the emergency department, patient rooms, nursing stations, the pharmacy, one of the operating rooms and the cardiac catheterization lab. It was a rare opportunity to get such an in-depth peek at a foreign hospital and being a hospital person, I not only enjoyed it all, but learned much about how healthcare is delivered in this country in the process, including a very different role for pharmacists than those that work in hospitals in the US. We then spent about an hour looking over their impressive IT infrastructure and the self-developed hospital information system that they have implemented. In that process I also learned all about the payment and reimbursement process in the country – also invaluable. We then had a long discussion about CPOE and closed loop medication processes (I don’t expect you to know what that is, and there is no simple way to explain it) with the director of the hospital, the chief pharmacist, another administrator and a physician. I figure that I gave them about an hour or two of free consulting but it was worth it given what I learned during my time there. It was positively delightful as they were so proud to show off their hospital to a knowledgeable and appreciative audience.
I should mention at this point that approximately 40% of the population of the UAE is Indian, as were all of the people that I was with, and it is this population that the hospital primarily serves. Dr. Zulekha, the founder and owner of the now two-hospital company which is also expanding in the UAE and into India, is an OB/GYN who started practicing in the early 1960’s, delivering babies by lantern light as their mothers arrived by camel. She went on to start a primary care clinic and eventually decided that high-quality, reasonably priced healthcare was needed by the Indian population so she started the hospital to serve them, with a strong focus on the patient experience. While she is still involved, her daughter and son-in-law now run the company.
In gratitude for my time, Ali – the late 20-something IT director – then took me out for one of the best meals I’ve ever had. I have always maintained that some of the best food can be found in dives and the place we went can only be described as a stand-up luncheonette counter outside a supermarket in one of the Indian sections of town. Ali just kept ordering different things, some of which I knew of, others I didn’t recognize and couldn’t pronounce so I can’t tell you what they were except that they were, for the most part, fried, spicy and delicious. Ali just kept saying “try this,” “hold it this way,” (everything was eaten by hand), “dip it in this sauce and then in this sauce,” etc. As I was still in my suit and it was about 100 degrees and humid – even in the dark of evening – he kept plying me with water and napkins with which to wipe my head. I think the whole meal cost about $7 for both of us.
It was a very nice way to wrap up my trip here. Had I known, I certainly would have stayed longer as I did not get to see most of the tourist sights and I am told that one of the best things to do is a late day 4X4 ride into the desert to a Bedouin tent where there is live music, belly dancing, camel rides and a feast fit for a king as you watch the sunset. If I come back, I will definitely try that experience. In the mean time, it is off to bed with a satisfied belly and then to the airport in the morning for the long journey home. All in all, it was a short but successful (I hope – the truth will be told in whether my meetings convert to signed contracts) trip to a strange and far off land to which I hope to someday return.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Report from Dubai - Day Two, Part 2
Had dinner at Shahrzad last night, the Iranian restaurant here at the Hyatt. When you walk in, you feel as if you are taking a step back in time to a Bedouin tent with live music. Since everyone keeps asking me about the food, I will report that I had a wonderful soup called Ash-e-Adas which is a lentil soup with leeks, some cream and fresh squeezed lemon juice. The main course was Gheymeh Bademjan which is a traditional stew of lamb with yellow lentils, tomatoes, and topped with crispy fried eggplant served over scented rice. Delish! They also had shisha pipes available (also knows as hookahs) with various flavors available (apple, rose, others) but we did not partake.
Lack of sleep is starting to catch up with me so it’s a good thing today is the last day of the conference though it promises to be a long day since I will be going out with the folks from Zulekah Hospital after the conference ends. It is the start of their weekend and typical Arab evenings go late into the night so who knows when I will get in tonight.
Lack of sleep is starting to catch up with me so it’s a good thing today is the last day of the conference though it promises to be a long day since I will be going out with the folks from Zulekah Hospital after the conference ends. It is the start of their weekend and typical Arab evenings go late into the night so who knows when I will get in tonight.
Report from Dubai - Day Two
Today was a work day – the first day of the congress I am attending which was kicked off by the Minister of Health for the United Arab Emirates. It was very formal – there was a red ribbon across the door of the ballroom where the opening session was held which was ceremoniously cut with silver scissors by the Minister upon his arrival.
It was very interesting and much of what I had read in “Understanding Arabs” paid off in terms of knowing how to interact. One of the pointers is that Arabs will not do business with you unless they get to know and like you. One of my meetings was with 4 administrators from a hospital group in the UAE. Afterwards I wasn’t sure how it had gone but I must have done something right as they tracked me down later to invite me to see their hospital tomorrow afternoon when the conference ends and then out to dinner. Especially nice as their weekend starts Thursday night.
I also met with a hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia that will may likely lead to some work over there, and I am having dinner tonight with 4 medical directors from the Ministry of Health.
I also had a chance to meet with some of the other solution providers. In the US and particularly in the Northeast, everyone in my industry knows most of the other people. This concept has now extended around the globe as I found one person with whom we know 3 people in common and another who grew up on 73rd Street and Central Park West. Small world!
Not a bad day at all.
On the food front, the breakfast buffet here is nothing like I have ever experienced. As they must cater to Middle Eastern, Western, and Asian tastes there was a grand selection of items, some of which I had never heard of and fruits that I had never seen. Don’t ask me what anything was – it was just delicious.
The conference’s lunch was at the hotel’s Italian restaurant and while nice and tasty, nothing to write home about (or blog about).
Dinner tonight will be at the hotel’s Iranian restaurant which is highly regarded in Dubai both for the food and the atmosphere. Aside from the 4 docs, I will also be joined by the managing partner of our affiliate firm here in Dubai. That actually led to another interesting tid-bit. I let the managing partner know what I looked like and what I would be wearing so that we could find each other in the lobby of the hotel. He responded with what he looked like and simply that he would be wearing a suit - as opposed to the traditional white garment and headress.
All in all a good day and I’m looking forward to a good dinner. Am starting to get just a wee bit tired so it is a good thing that Muslims do not drink – otherwise I would probably pass out half way through dinner as the lack of sleep starts to catch up with me.
It was very interesting and much of what I had read in “Understanding Arabs” paid off in terms of knowing how to interact. One of the pointers is that Arabs will not do business with you unless they get to know and like you. One of my meetings was with 4 administrators from a hospital group in the UAE. Afterwards I wasn’t sure how it had gone but I must have done something right as they tracked me down later to invite me to see their hospital tomorrow afternoon when the conference ends and then out to dinner. Especially nice as their weekend starts Thursday night.
I also met with a hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia that will may likely lead to some work over there, and I am having dinner tonight with 4 medical directors from the Ministry of Health.
I also had a chance to meet with some of the other solution providers. In the US and particularly in the Northeast, everyone in my industry knows most of the other people. This concept has now extended around the globe as I found one person with whom we know 3 people in common and another who grew up on 73rd Street and Central Park West. Small world!
Not a bad day at all.
On the food front, the breakfast buffet here is nothing like I have ever experienced. As they must cater to Middle Eastern, Western, and Asian tastes there was a grand selection of items, some of which I had never heard of and fruits that I had never seen. Don’t ask me what anything was – it was just delicious.
The conference’s lunch was at the hotel’s Italian restaurant and while nice and tasty, nothing to write home about (or blog about).
Dinner tonight will be at the hotel’s Iranian restaurant which is highly regarded in Dubai both for the food and the atmosphere. Aside from the 4 docs, I will also be joined by the managing partner of our affiliate firm here in Dubai. That actually led to another interesting tid-bit. I let the managing partner know what I looked like and what I would be wearing so that we could find each other in the lobby of the hotel. He responded with what he looked like and simply that he would be wearing a suit - as opposed to the traditional white garment and headress.
All in all a good day and I’m looking forward to a good dinner. Am starting to get just a wee bit tired so it is a good thing that Muslims do not drink – otherwise I would probably pass out half way through dinner as the lack of sleep starts to catch up with me.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Report from Dubai - Day One, Part 2
Not sure what’s up with my jet lag. I made it through the day on Tuesday finally hitting the sack around 9PM, but have now been up since 3:30AM. At least I got some sleep.
I have endured extreme heat before, but nothing prepared me for walking around yesterday. When I stopped at the concierge to check my directions for my planned jaunt, she said that I was very brave for undertaking such a walk and didn’t I want to take a cab? After about 15 minutes, I realized that she was probably right. The humidity wasn’t all that bad, but the heat is so intense that even my glasses were burning to the touch. It didn't help that I was in long pants as shorts are frowned upon here (can't reveal too much flesh).
I made it as far as the Gold Souk which was not all that interesting as neither Betsy nor I are very much into jewelry. Perhaps more interesting was that once I got a block from my hotel, I was in a blue-collar commercial section of town. There were shops offering just about anything one could want, yet none of them were particularly nice – mostly hole in the walls – but I got the sense that I was seeing part of Dubai that many tourists probably do not. It also seemed to be the center for shops that do custom modifications on cars. No garages – the work was being done right on the street in front of the storefronts.
Some other observations:
o I have a fairly dark complexion for a Caucasian so when traveling through Europe, no one really has ever pegged me as a tourist until I open my mouth and they hear my lousy accent. Here, however, I feel like a lily-white Irishman who hasn’t seen the light of day for months.
o Many Arab businessmen – essentially anyone in a white collar job – wear the traditional long white robe and headdress. I did not see many at all at the airport or on the ride to the hotel, but here at the Hyatt which plays host to many business meetings, at least 50% of the men in the lobby and other public areas were wearing just that, including the security guards. All the others were foreigners for the most part. I find it both interesting and somewhat amusing. The amusing part comes from the fact that in films and other exposure to the Arab world, I have always associated men in such dress as being leaders or royalty. Every time I pass an Arab man in the white flowing garb, my initial reaction is that he must be a sheik or emir when, in fact, he is just as likely to be the IT guy or a personnel manager.
o There are very few women in public here and many are dressed in black robes and fully veiled. Contrasted with this are the many commercials on TV featuring Western women in contemporary dress, until I realized that all of those commercials were for products that are geared towards outer appearance – cosmetics, weight loss products, etc.
When I returned to the hotel I checked out the attached upscale mini-mall which features an ice-skating rink, Fun Time Pizza (think Chucky Cheese) and Baskin Robbins. And everyone here seems to smoke, regardless of whether it is permitted or not. Now it makes sense why, on the flight from Paris, the crew repeated the fact that smoking is prohibited on board including in the lavatories about 8 times.
The revolving restaurant was completely booked last night so I ate in another of the hotel’s restaurants where I had an excellent Middle Eastern mixed grill before hitting the sack. Tonight I am hosting a dinner at what is supposed to be a very fancy Iranian restaurant (many of the restaurants in town are either Lebanese or Iranian).
More later.
I have endured extreme heat before, but nothing prepared me for walking around yesterday. When I stopped at the concierge to check my directions for my planned jaunt, she said that I was very brave for undertaking such a walk and didn’t I want to take a cab? After about 15 minutes, I realized that she was probably right. The humidity wasn’t all that bad, but the heat is so intense that even my glasses were burning to the touch. It didn't help that I was in long pants as shorts are frowned upon here (can't reveal too much flesh).
I made it as far as the Gold Souk which was not all that interesting as neither Betsy nor I are very much into jewelry. Perhaps more interesting was that once I got a block from my hotel, I was in a blue-collar commercial section of town. There were shops offering just about anything one could want, yet none of them were particularly nice – mostly hole in the walls – but I got the sense that I was seeing part of Dubai that many tourists probably do not. It also seemed to be the center for shops that do custom modifications on cars. No garages – the work was being done right on the street in front of the storefronts.
Some other observations:
o I have a fairly dark complexion for a Caucasian so when traveling through Europe, no one really has ever pegged me as a tourist until I open my mouth and they hear my lousy accent. Here, however, I feel like a lily-white Irishman who hasn’t seen the light of day for months.
o Many Arab businessmen – essentially anyone in a white collar job – wear the traditional long white robe and headdress. I did not see many at all at the airport or on the ride to the hotel, but here at the Hyatt which plays host to many business meetings, at least 50% of the men in the lobby and other public areas were wearing just that, including the security guards. All the others were foreigners for the most part. I find it both interesting and somewhat amusing. The amusing part comes from the fact that in films and other exposure to the Arab world, I have always associated men in such dress as being leaders or royalty. Every time I pass an Arab man in the white flowing garb, my initial reaction is that he must be a sheik or emir when, in fact, he is just as likely to be the IT guy or a personnel manager.
o There are very few women in public here and many are dressed in black robes and fully veiled. Contrasted with this are the many commercials on TV featuring Western women in contemporary dress, until I realized that all of those commercials were for products that are geared towards outer appearance – cosmetics, weight loss products, etc.
When I returned to the hotel I checked out the attached upscale mini-mall which features an ice-skating rink, Fun Time Pizza (think Chucky Cheese) and Baskin Robbins. And everyone here seems to smoke, regardless of whether it is permitted or not. Now it makes sense why, on the flight from Paris, the crew repeated the fact that smoking is prohibited on board including in the lavatories about 8 times.
The revolving restaurant was completely booked last night so I ate in another of the hotel’s restaurants where I had an excellent Middle Eastern mixed grill before hitting the sack. Tonight I am hosting a dinner at what is supposed to be a very fancy Iranian restaurant (many of the restaurants in town are either Lebanese or Iranian).
More later.
Report from Dubai - Day One
As some of you know, I am in Dubai attending a conference on Global Healthcare Expansion as a business development effort. There is a tremendous amount of growth in the hospital and primary care markets here in the MENA region (Middle East-North Africa) and I am using this congress as a test to determine if there is a place for the services my team provides.
What is more interesting, however, is the trip itself and as some requested, I hope to blog about it here.
I left New York yesterday on the morning flight to Paris, connecting there to Dubai. I must say that business class on Air France doesn’t suck. The food was quite good, the seating comfortable, and although I was working and did not take advantage of it there is a very good selection of on-demand films.
As much as I tried – took melatonin, used ear plugs and an eye shade – I just couldn’t fall asleep for more than a few minutes at a time on the second leg which was an overnight flight from Paris. Consequently I am now going on 24 hours without sleep and with the exception of a potential brief nap later this afternoon, I don’t expect to go to sleep for another 10 hours or so.
The first “a-ha” moment I had was towards the end of the flight as I watched our progress on the moving map. We flew right between Baghdad and Tehran – two places that I have known only through news reports, none of which made either city seem that inviting. The plane was equipped with an external camera which was way cool for watching take-off and landing, but which also provided a straight down view while in flight. Flying over Iraq and Iran, the landscape looked strangely like the American southwest from 39,000 feet.
I did a lot of research for my trip here, both on the business side, as well as the cultural. I picked up an excellent book – “Understanding Arabs” by Margaret Nydell – which proved to be an invaluable resource in terms of understanding the culture based on both a historical and modern perspective. Most importantly, it helps debunk myths regarding the differences between Muslims and Islamic Fundamentalists and also provides much great information on understanding the social and etiquette standards I expect to encounter.
Prior to coming, I had planned – if asked – to indicate that I am an agnostic as I had heard that Judaism is not respected here. The book, however, corrected me. Arab issues are with Israel – not Judaism. As a matter of fact, Islam is very closely aligned with Judaism and Muslims consider their religion to be much closer to Judaism than to Christianity. The other thing I learned is that Arabs do not respect atheists or agnostics as they believe that being religious – no matter what the religion – is something to be highly respected. I believe that if asked (which I probably won’t be anyway) I will likely respond that I am Jewish, from an Eastern European background.
Reading the book, however, could not have prepared me for my arrival in Dubai. The view from the plane reminded me partly of Elizabeth, NJ (a major port with container shipping quite evident) and partly the skyline of Shanghai. Here I was hoping for a culturally significant experience yet on the drive from the airport to my hotel (Hyatt Regency in Deira on the Corniche overlooking the Arabian Gulf – known in the US as the Persian Gulf). I felt instead that I could have been in Atlanta, L.A. or Miami Beach. The cars are big (mostly Toyotas, Hondas and BMWs including many SUVs), the streets wide, the buildings modern. Everything is in both Arabic and English though I think that there was more English than Arabic. Passed a Hardees and a Chili’s. Can’t escape American fast food. The only difference so far, is that when exiting the terminal at the airport, there is a separate “Ladies Waiting Area” emphasizing the fact that a woman’s role in Arab culture is still very different than Western cultures.
My room at the hotel was ready when I arrived at 9AM and I have been on-line dealing with e-mail since I checked in. As the conference starts tomorrow morning I plan to take a shower and head out in the immediate area this afternoon to check out the Gold Souk (market), Spice Souk, and take a boat ride across Dubai Creek to the Bur Dubai section of town. I plan to grab a shwarma for lunch and dinner will probably be at the hotel tonight in the revolving roof top restaurant. The views from the 25th floor are supposed to be spectacular and the international buffet pretty decent. Will report back soon. Ma’a ssalama (Goodbye) and a-salaam alaykum (Peace be upon you)!
What is more interesting, however, is the trip itself and as some requested, I hope to blog about it here.
I left New York yesterday on the morning flight to Paris, connecting there to Dubai. I must say that business class on Air France doesn’t suck. The food was quite good, the seating comfortable, and although I was working and did not take advantage of it there is a very good selection of on-demand films.
As much as I tried – took melatonin, used ear plugs and an eye shade – I just couldn’t fall asleep for more than a few minutes at a time on the second leg which was an overnight flight from Paris. Consequently I am now going on 24 hours without sleep and with the exception of a potential brief nap later this afternoon, I don’t expect to go to sleep for another 10 hours or so.
The first “a-ha” moment I had was towards the end of the flight as I watched our progress on the moving map. We flew right between Baghdad and Tehran – two places that I have known only through news reports, none of which made either city seem that inviting. The plane was equipped with an external camera which was way cool for watching take-off and landing, but which also provided a straight down view while in flight. Flying over Iraq and Iran, the landscape looked strangely like the American southwest from 39,000 feet.
I did a lot of research for my trip here, both on the business side, as well as the cultural. I picked up an excellent book – “Understanding Arabs” by Margaret Nydell – which proved to be an invaluable resource in terms of understanding the culture based on both a historical and modern perspective. Most importantly, it helps debunk myths regarding the differences between Muslims and Islamic Fundamentalists and also provides much great information on understanding the social and etiquette standards I expect to encounter.
Prior to coming, I had planned – if asked – to indicate that I am an agnostic as I had heard that Judaism is not respected here. The book, however, corrected me. Arab issues are with Israel – not Judaism. As a matter of fact, Islam is very closely aligned with Judaism and Muslims consider their religion to be much closer to Judaism than to Christianity. The other thing I learned is that Arabs do not respect atheists or agnostics as they believe that being religious – no matter what the religion – is something to be highly respected. I believe that if asked (which I probably won’t be anyway) I will likely respond that I am Jewish, from an Eastern European background.
Reading the book, however, could not have prepared me for my arrival in Dubai. The view from the plane reminded me partly of Elizabeth, NJ (a major port with container shipping quite evident) and partly the skyline of Shanghai. Here I was hoping for a culturally significant experience yet on the drive from the airport to my hotel (Hyatt Regency in Deira on the Corniche overlooking the Arabian Gulf – known in the US as the Persian Gulf). I felt instead that I could have been in Atlanta, L.A. or Miami Beach. The cars are big (mostly Toyotas, Hondas and BMWs including many SUVs), the streets wide, the buildings modern. Everything is in both Arabic and English though I think that there was more English than Arabic. Passed a Hardees and a Chili’s. Can’t escape American fast food. The only difference so far, is that when exiting the terminal at the airport, there is a separate “Ladies Waiting Area” emphasizing the fact that a woman’s role in Arab culture is still very different than Western cultures.
My room at the hotel was ready when I arrived at 9AM and I have been on-line dealing with e-mail since I checked in. As the conference starts tomorrow morning I plan to take a shower and head out in the immediate area this afternoon to check out the Gold Souk (market), Spice Souk, and take a boat ride across Dubai Creek to the Bur Dubai section of town. I plan to grab a shwarma for lunch and dinner will probably be at the hotel tonight in the revolving roof top restaurant. The views from the 25th floor are supposed to be spectacular and the international buffet pretty decent. Will report back soon. Ma’a ssalama (Goodbye) and a-salaam alaykum (Peace be upon you)!
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