Home  The All New Blog Abu Dhabi: Lazy like Sunday morning?
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Abu Dhabi: Lazy like Sunday morning? |
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Written by Stephen Baines
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Sunday, 22 August 2004 |
Trying to convince myself that I should up and off at that time of the morning wasn't easy today. Ok, so I'm not the sort of person who lounges around in bed on a Sunday morning, but to get up at what still feels like 3:30am to me hurt really bad. It's not a time for getting up. It's cruel and unusual punishment.
But I was there at the center ready to start the session. Manar's boss was present to say 'hello' and talk to his staff. With that done, we got underway.
I've been thinking a lot the last few days about attitudes here. Whilst for me they aren't a problem - I can be me, and not have any problems as I choose what to say and what not to say, it's most definitely not the same for others. A case in point is the hotel. Those in senior positions at the hotel are, to a person, white Europeans with the odd Arab. Those in service jobs are mainly Asian and some of Indian or Pakistan origin. Those who are responsbile for cleaning, maintenance and portering are nearly exclusively from the Sub-Continent. I have yet to see anyone of European or Arab origin in such a lowly job, whether at my hotel, the hotel where the training is or in one of the multitude of other places I've been over the last few days. It is incredibly striking to me as a visitor to the country. Apparently you can have a live-in maid for about 800 Dirhams a month - that's about £125. That really brings it home.
I didn't think much about it when I arrived, the porter was very helpful when I arrived, took me to the room at the flats, and then later brought me back to the main hotel and to my room. I gave him a tip - I'd only just arrived and only had the notes that I had from Travelex, namely 100 and 10 Dirham notes. I gave him a 10 Dirham note (about £1.50) and said thank you. Everytime I've seen him since he's made a special point of saying hello, checking how I am, asking if there is anything he can do. What was I meant to give him? Have I, under the usual rules, given him a large tip? I certainly didn't think so, I thought I was rather mean and wished I'd had more notes as he'd lugged my stuff to two locations, a visit to a new room first, and put up with me being stressed.
I've noticed it a lot as I've ate meals, it seems I'm the only person who says "please" and "thank you" to the staff who are serving. It seems that the ex-pats are some of the worst, by far, who seem to be enjoying the return of The Empire and desperately want to get the pink crayons out. It makes me incredibly uncomfortable. On the way back to my hotel room I'll pass several of the cleaning staff at the hotel and say good morning, good afternoon, whatever... Am I alone in doing what seems courteous and normal? What would happen if I stayed here a long period of time? I hate to think that I would change, but such is the social order of the country that much as I hate to think it, I believe it would be incredibly easy to slip into those ways; to expect service, to have "invisible" staff and services, to know your place in society and make sure that everyone else knows it too. I would really hate to be me if that was true.
Officially, I've been told, there is no poverty or homeless in the UAE. But if there isn't, why were those men rummaging through the bins outside the mall, taking food from them, and taking the larger of the cardboard boxes nearby away with them, and scuttling off when they saw me drawing near? I don't believe they were recycling or making a model of Tracey Island.
The place has got me thinking a lot and thinking probably more than anywhere else I've been as it is just so different. I'm incredibly glad to have the opportunity to see it with my own eyes, but I don't think I'd like to stay.
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