I can't lie to you. I had 8 days between returning from Key West until I had to leave for Dubai. That should have been plenty of time to prepare, right? My plane left on Tuesday, Oct 7. I started packing Monday morning. My second camera died the previous weekend (my underwater camera died 8 feet down in a pool in Key West), so Sunday and Monday afternoon were spent looking for a camera no one appeared to sell. Monday mid day I met my parents for lunch at Triumph as they were driving home from Maryland.
So I've got my exit plan in place. I was going to wake up early and go on a bike ride with Dom, who was "sick" that day, go out to breakfast, and then catch a ride with Dom to the airport as he drove to Delaware.
Fault: my plane left Philly at 3, not 5. Scratch the bike ride. Thankfully I checked again the night before and realized this before departure day. Everything else worked really well. I finished packing and even managed to fit everything into one checked bag. I went out for a great breakfast, in good company, at a diner in the 'yunk for my last meal in America. When I got back, Dom took me to the airport.
It turns out most banks, and even many currency exchange companies can't convert US Dollars to Emirati Dirhams. Who knew? Thankfully, someone had exchanged some right at the airport shortly before I called looking for it. I walked right up to the Travelex outside the international gates where the money was waiting with my name on the reservation. Score!
Even with two computers, camera, multiple battery chargers and all kinds of other electronic paraphernalia this trip had to be about the easisest I've ever breezed through security. After entering the terminal, I went straight to newspaper stand where I bought two books and three magazines.
The flight to Atlanta was packed, like the other flights I've had to Atlanta in the previous weeks (OCC flies Delta - Atlanta is Delta's hub). The layover wasn't too bad. I made a few last minute phone calls to family, found a comfy chair and read my book. --> Word to the wise, anyone who has a long layover in Atlanta should check out the international terminal. Thats where they hide the best restaurants and all the gates have big comfy chairs.
My second flight was direct from Atlanta to Dubai, a full 14and 1/2 hours. The flight left at 9. I sat next to this cool indian guy who owned a pharmaceutical distribution company in Dubai. He was really excited that we were both divers, though he couldn't really grasp the concept of commercial diving where you can't see anything... Anyway, as soon as we were airborne, they served us an American style dinner. I read a bit, slept for a while and then they served us a decidedly more Arabic style dinner. Its about this point that I realize this may be the time in my life where I will finally have to learn to love couscous and hummus. Second dinner being over, we crossed the Iraq-Iran border and half an hour later we land in Dubai.
The Dubai airport, that's DXB for you travelers, is like being in a 5 star hotel and casino, without the booze seeing as alcohol is nationally prohibited (more on this later). There were contests to win Porsches and Ferraris about every 50 feet, bright neon lights, chandeliers, marble floors, all kinds of service personnel, etc...etc... I walted through customs. US Citizens don't need a Visa as long as the visit is less than two months. Funny, my assignment here is 7 weeks.
I picked up my checked bag and found the exit. Dileep, the COWI driver, was waiting outside with a big green and white sign. He promptly would not let me carry my own bags. We walked over and get into our brand spankin' new company 2007 corolla and away we went.
Sheik Zayed Road (this is the three lane onramp - actual road to the left)
Seeing as it was now 9:00PM local time, Dileep took me straight to the hotel. On the way, he pointed out all the new towers. Here is this tower, its open 6 months now. There is that tower, it only has 25 floors, open 2 years now. We drive over this enormous 12 lane bridge. It was a cool bridge, but even more so because it had only been open for 3 weeks (and already its crowded with traffic). I asked about my hotel which had a little different architecture. He apologized to me and said the normal hotel was full and this one was very very old, almost 10 years now.
Hotel Ibis - My room for the first two weeks.
Converting to US 110V Power
Somehow, I managed to fall right back asleep. The day is now Thursday. Got up in the morning, ate breakfast at the hotel provided buffet and when I was done, Dileep was waiting outside to take me to the office. We took Sheik Zayed road. Sheik Zayed is between 10 and 14 lanes across at all points. It is always congested. As we’re sitting in traffic, Dileep points out many of the towers as we pass by. He points out this gold plated building, a little shorter than the others, maybe only 20 stories, he says that that building was our old office. The office is now in a brand new building, a bit outside of town. COWI is the first tenant to move in.
The "Golden" office building.
We park, and take the elevator up. The building is 4 stories, and mostly unfinished. The elevator is full of dust. Most of the floors are still occupied by construction debris. Our office is quite nice. There are a few exterior offices with windows. Most of the office is open. There is a central core with the bathrooms and break room. Dileep takes me into meet Jesper. Jesper is direct from the home COWI office in Denmark. He is the Managing director of both COWI Dubai office, as well as the entire COWI Gulf region. We chat for a bit. He takes me to my desk and introduces me to the people I will primarily be working with. Bushra is the senior engineer responsible for the concrete block walls. Most of my work will be for her. I will also work with Usama, senior engineer responsible for revetments, Husan, geotechnical engineering and Brad , who arrived from Chicago with his wife about a week before me. They show me the computer program and give me an introductory problem to solve -- more on this excel based program later. 20 minutes after I arrive, I’m plugging away again with good old trusty Excel. The end of the day comes and they wish me a good weekend. I am confused. It is Thursday. Turns out the weekend here is Friday and Saturday. Cool. Dileep takes me back to the hotel. So begins the weekend.
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