This blog began as a description of our life in Al Ain, UAE (United Arab Emirates). Brn worked at the UAE University Libraries Deanship for three years and Bss homeschooled our four children, D, B, P, and O. After returning to the the USA for five years, we are living in Abu Dhabi now.
2005/10/18
Culture Shock
I apologize for the lack of posts. I have been suffering from writer's block and severe homesickness/culture shock adjustment for a couple of weeks now. I didn't even realize it until Bss was telling my how she was feeling too. I feel like I'm coming out of it now. According to Lulu's posts about culture shock, I'm feel like I'm in a combination of stage 2 and 3.
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7 comments:
Yeah, remember going thru that! You'll be ok. Looking forward to your postings.. I live in Al Ain and I've got your blogs on my Favorites list.
Thanks for the comment and for reading.
I don't know if I'm gradually getting out of the funk that I was in, or just realizing what was wrong is helping, but I feel much better today.
brn, they recently opened an indoor skiing place in Dubai, complete with indoor snow, perhaps you should pay a visit later on ?
Also, would you be interested in pop tarts and kool aid ? I think I may be able to requisition you some.
Emirati, thank you so much for you suggestion and offer.
I actually have to go to Dubai next week for two days of training, and after seeing SecretDubai's pictures of the ski slope, I have to make a trek over to see that in person.
Also a friend told me that the Spinney's near Burjmann has Pop-Tarts, so I'll be popping in there too, so you don't have to get me any. But your offer is greatly appreciated.
Brn,
I remember the feeling all too well--but it does pass. For me, part of it is "missing out" on all things happening back home this time of year--Halloween, SEC football, fall leaves, Thanksgiving, Christmas. What I found to be helpful was to celebrate these traditions with others here. And by the way, you can get Libby's pumpkin pie filling and cranberry sauce at Safestway on Sheik Zayed Road in Dubai.
There's canned pumpkin pie filling & canned pure pumpkin at the Choithram's in downtown Al Ain, too. :)
Have you read "Culture Shock! United Arab Emirates" by Gina Crocetti? You can't buy it here, but we read it before we came over & it sort of prepared us for the inevitable stages of culture shock/homesickness.
Just wait until you go back home on vacation--you'll have a new kind of culture shock because you'll have adjusted to life here so well! :)
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