The heat

I came here knowing that it would be hot. But it is difficult to describe just what it is like here. And I always have the comfort of knowing the worst is still to come.

I landed in Dubai at about 11:00 PM. After going through customs and collecting my bags, it was nearly midnight before I walked outside. The minute the doors opened to the outside, it was nearly impossible to breathe. To say it was like walking into a sauna doesn't do it justice. The first thought to go through my mind was "maybe I have made a mistake here."

Once we got to Al Ain though, it was much better. It is much drier here than in Dubai (or North Carolina for that matter), and it makes a big difference. It has been over 110 almost every day that I have been here. But unless you are in the direct sunlight or moving around during the worst part of the day (11:00 am to 5:00 pm or so), it really isn't so bad.

But in the direct sunlight it is a different matter. It is impossible to describe just how violent, how brutal the mid-day sun is here. It is almost as if I can feel my skin burning.

I made the mistake of walking around in the middle of the day my first week here. I walked slowly about a mile or so, and by the time I got to where I was going (the mall), my heart was racing and I felt as if I was ready to collapse. So it is good to see that the government has mandated that outdoor workers be given a break from 12:30 to 4:30.