Well another day has passed. The working environment today wasn’t as chaotic and I felt a little more settled. What didn’t help was serious internet and IT problems that hindered the whole office. The full time staff there were very frustrated.
However, I am not going to blog too much about work today, but rather about a few impressions I have made about Abu Dhabi in the short time I have been here. Someone said to me that “no one lives in Abu Dhabi, everybody works.” It is very true, from the top to the bottom. There are those working at the top of business and industry who earn big bucks for a couple of years and then head home or somewhere else that offers more money.
Then there are those, mainly immigrants from Asia and parts of the Far East, who fill most of the service jobs in the hotels and offices, as well as many of the manual labour jobs. Most of these workers live in camps outside the city and are bussed in every morning for work and then at the end of the day bussed back out again. They certainly don’t get many of the luxuries that come with a city like Abu Dhabi. The money they earn is sent back to their families at home and many don’t see them or their homes for many years. It makes me feel a little bit stupid for missing Gail and Jack (and Stephen) after just a few days!
In other news, I went for a swim yesterday in the outdoor pool at night time, which was lovely – managed 60 lengths breaststroke before having to drag myself out of the pool. I was getting competitive with myself continuingly demanding just 5 more laps! Today I managed a visit to the gym and even though it was air conditioned I was dripping with sweat by the time I had finished my 10k on the treadmill. It is so hot.
Tomorrow, I think I might talk about the air-conditioning here! It’s everywhere.
However, I am not going to blog too much about work today, but rather about a few impressions I have made about Abu Dhabi in the short time I have been here. Someone said to me that “no one lives in Abu Dhabi, everybody works.” It is very true, from the top to the bottom. There are those working at the top of business and industry who earn big bucks for a couple of years and then head home or somewhere else that offers more money.
Then there are those, mainly immigrants from Asia and parts of the Far East, who fill most of the service jobs in the hotels and offices, as well as many of the manual labour jobs. Most of these workers live in camps outside the city and are bussed in every morning for work and then at the end of the day bussed back out again. They certainly don’t get many of the luxuries that come with a city like Abu Dhabi. The money they earn is sent back to their families at home and many don’t see them or their homes for many years. It makes me feel a little bit stupid for missing Gail and Jack (and Stephen) after just a few days!
In other news, I went for a swim yesterday in the outdoor pool at night time, which was lovely – managed 60 lengths breaststroke before having to drag myself out of the pool. I was getting competitive with myself continuingly demanding just 5 more laps! Today I managed a visit to the gym and even though it was air conditioned I was dripping with sweat by the time I had finished my 10k on the treadmill. It is so hot.
Tomorrow, I think I might talk about the air-conditioning here! It’s everywhere.
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