Accents

Dubai is also a highly multicultural place. Noone knows the exact population of the city, it is believed to be near 1.5 million. I am not totally convinced, just make a trip to the airport, I always have the feeling that much more people are coming than leaving. It is also believed, and sounds about all right, that only 8% of the population are UAE nationals, there is an other 12% other Arabic people, 30% westerners including Europeans, Australians and Americans and the rest 50% are the Asians, such as Indians, Philippinos, Pakistanians, Chinese, etc.

I really looked forward to learn Arabic here, and I still believe speaking the language gives a better understanding on a certain culture. But learning Arabic in Dubai is like learning it in any non-Arabic city. One would have basically no opportunity to practice it outside the noble building of the Language School.

Coming to the point, the common language is English. All possible accents of it. And even more! Indians born in Canada, Chinese lived in Germany, French educated in South Africa - infinite versions. You surely have to master understanding all 'languages'. Sometimes even speaking it... Three must be "tree" unless you want to stay in the shop until the Indian assistant gives you a piece of paper to write on, the sofa is "sopa" if you want the Philippina cleaning lady to vacuum underneath, and the movie did not suck, it was just "weird" or worst case you are "not sure about it" if you want your British friends go out with you again.

That is why in Dubai, and only in Dubai is it possible to have a "Guess the accent" morning radio show. They play the same sentence, praising the sponsor, pronounced by Dubai based speakers from all over the world, and the audience have to guess their city of origin. Cool. Almost motivates me to get up earlier.

Something positive on Philippinos

Further to below post, I have to tell this recent story.

I went to buy new computers for the company. There is a place called "Computer Plaza" that has about 100 computer shops stuffed into two storeys, one next to the other. I went to the first, the Indian guy working there promised the blue sky, I got it priced, bargained a little, and went to the second one in hope of a better offer. This second shop had two Philippino shop keepers. A young one standing and an elder boss sitting behind a desk. I told the young one what I needed, and he directed me to talk with the other one. I sat down and waited until he finished his important work on the computer (maybe solitaire, or minefield?). Then I explained what I needed. Then he slowly, very slowly pulled out a list from the mess on his desk and told me to select the machine. I looked at the list, which was of course completely irrelevant to my request, and explained again what I was after. He slowly, very slowly dug out a notepad, and slowly, very slowly jotted down some basic parameters of the machines I wanted. Then he started endless phone calls, explaining to some even slower guy at the other end about the machines and engaging in discussions about the feasibility of such a wonder machine. Here I gave up. I lost my temper. 'I really do not have time for this' I said 'If you are so reluctant to help, I do not need your help!' and rushed out from the shop. I went into a third one, run by Indians, where I quickly explained my needs and went ahead discussing the price and the delivery time. I spent about 15-20 minutes in that shop , when the young Philippino shop assistant from the other shop came in.
'Oh Ma'am, oh Ma'am, so good I found you, have been looking for you at all the shops.'
I expected him to say that they figured my machines would be available, but it was something totally different.
'You left your bag in our shop.'
And in that instance I remembered I put my handbag behind me on the seat when I was there. I had 5000AED company money with me for the deposit, 2000AED own money, expensive camera, expensive phone, carkeys, flatkeys, IDs with car registration number and home address... And this guy, after I played hurt and left them very impolitely, wasted 20 minutes of his life to look for me and gave back my bag that had cash worth about 4 months of his salary...
I felt so embarrassed, I did not even know what to say. I left the shop after a quick 'Thanks a lot, it is really kind of you.', I felt too embarrassed to stay or to look at them.

Needless to say, in any other cities, especially European ones, with all that "smart" people, you do not need to leave there your cash stuffed bag for 20 minutes. It is enough to look at the other direction, and it is already stolen. We really have to value how honest people can be here in Dubai. Only in Dubai.

Something negative on Philippinos

Cheap labour in Dubai is supplied from Asia. Mostly from the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal. Those people are coming from backward villages, they are not educated or even familiar with "Western life". But they work for pennies... And you get what you paid for... Failing to realize the reasons behind, many people turn racist and have assumptions on the general mental capability of these people. Which misbelief is unfortunately gets justified on a daily basis in Dubai. After all, why would a smart Philippino or Indian come to Dubai, where he/she would be discriminated, and not to somewhere else? Therefore we have a big selection of not-that-smart Asians here.

My favorite Philippino is a guy, who works for a bakery franchise. I frequently go there at night, on my way home after work. By the way, the bakery is located at a petrol station, but that is not surprizing in Dubai. You can even pay your electricity bill at a petrol station, all these businesses are just owned by the same people. Anyway, he probably got a few weeks of training when he started, where his bosses clearly explained how he should encourage the customers to buy even more bakery products. And he does his job...
Me: 'Can I have that Chicken corn roll?'- and I point to a single pastry displayed.
Him:'Only one piece Ma'am?'
Me:'Do you have more?'
Him:'No Ma'am, this is the only one left.'
Me:'Ahhh, so why do you ask then?' (smiling)
Him: (looking at me, expressionless)
Me:'Ok, could you give me that Cheese roll as well?' - there is only one piece, as I said, I always go there at the end of the day.
Him:'Only one piece Ma'am?'
Me:'Do you have more? Give me two.'
Him:'Sorry Ma'am, this is the only one left.'
And it goes on and on...
And when I go next time, the same will happen.
He is dead sharp, isn't he.

But he certainly would lose in competition with our Philippina secretary. Not knowing how the fax machine works after 8 months with the company is a good start, but here is something that cannot be topped.

She used to work 5 and a half days, having Thursday afternoon and Friday off. When we all switched to 5 day workweek, she was explained she gets Friday and Saturday off, but has to stay all day Thursday. She seemed to understand it. Until she said 'Goodbye, I go home.' the following Thursday at 1 pm. "No, you stay here, don't you remember, blabla.' Ok, maybe she got it this time, I hoped. The second Thursday I got back to the office in the afternoon after a meeting. She was nowhere. Her bag was not there. I called her. Yeah, she went home. How can you be so stupid repeatedly not to remember your own days off?

Next summer I want to go to the Philippines. I am sure there are very smart people from there. I have to find them.

Big Village

Dubai does not have a great cultural life. Not that it lacks demand, but it lacks facilities. While theaters, events halls -and even opera houses for some mysterious reason- are under construction, currently there are only a limited number of operating small size halls with a choice of "bad" or "really bad" acoustics that can cater for cultural events.

This contributes to the fact that despite the sudden growth, Dubai still works like a village.

For example, the whole city got deeply excited on the arrival of The Circus. And as in the fairy tale, The Circus set up their tent at the edge of the city and started playing. All the media reminded you that They are here, and you could not skip the conversation topic with any friends, workmates, or just random people in the elevator. The following points had to be discussed, with absolutely everyone.
1. Have you heard about The Circus? (Try to give a negative reply and you will not be popular any more.)
2. Have you seen them? (If yes, go to question 3. If no, go to question 4. and be prepared that you have to repeat the test within a few days.)
3. Did you like it? (Essay question, min. 5 max. 10 sentences required for "Pass" mark.)
4. What are your other friends who saw the show saying about it? (Do not ever attempt to say "None of them did." You must have someone who saw it. If not, better if you make it up.)
5. Don't you think the ticket is very expensive? (Correct answer is "Yes, it is!!".)

And guess what, the other night I paid for the bloody expensive ticket and saw the show. Not that I love circus, but that is The Event in our village. Everyone talks about it.

Sudden City

On our company Christmas dinner my boss's wife who just visited from Australia for a few months explained how she thinks every city and target location must be named. New York is the Big Apple, Paris is the City of Light and Malaysia does a good job with advertising itself as "Malaysia Truly Asia". So what can be a name for Dubai.

A few days later in a friend's bathroom I saw the Jan 2007 issue of National Geographic. It has an article on Dubai, advertised on the cover. They named Dubai. It is the Sudden City.