Page 40 of lexispence10 Travel Blog Posts


Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai June 22nd 2012

*Disclaimer, for some ridiculous reason, this site keeps changing the names of my photos when I add them and it is making me mad! So, I'm have change the names on my computer, then add them, again, onto a brand new blog because it will not let me delete the photos either. I'm so frustrated now... Anyway, I think they are fine now - so, to continue: Oh, I so didn't want to get out of bed today! It helps that things are basically shut down on friday mornings - kind of like sundays in the south. So, there are about three different things I did today, and it was all relaxing to me. Even the walking - I just did at my own pace. And I am thankful that I took the time to hose ... read more
Desert hotel
Desert Locale
Desert Locale - Bus station

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai June 21st 2012

Even though it was only a 4-day work week, it was a long one. Especially the last two days. Today I went on my first site visit with Karim. We visited the site for the resort hotel they are making. We "only" have one of our rigs out there at that time (I've never worked with multiple!) and they had just begun work on the second hole. Mud drilling - I can't help it. I cringe everytime I see it! But I think it is mostly because we don't have it too often on my US projects; it's used in sandy materials below the water table which definitely describes one of the palm islands! The proposed hotel is located in the crescent of the giant palm that makes Dubai famous. I was interested to see any ... read more
My lunch!
Fugro shuttles

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai June 20th 2012

Ok, this one is going to be a doozy. What a very hectic last couple of days! I even took notes today to keep everything straight! Unfortunately for you, it's almost all regarding work - haha! Towards the end of work yesterday, Samar wanted me to come with her across the street to grab a drink (drink = soda). But she warned me that the place is very scary and that I "Will be shocked!". It was a little scary - we crossed the street in the industrial are and go through this gate in the wall, where it smells like a men's bathroom (one of my favorite analogies, huh Tim?), then into this little... I guess you could call it a shop. It seems to be primarily for the particular company there, but they had ... read more
One of my favorites
Dubai Buildings
The Metro at Business Bay

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai June 19th 2012

Holy cracker in a hand basket. Today was busy and exciting! While I'm waiting on the lab data that I've asked for for the upteenth time (and the ONLY thing holding up the otherwise finished report), I will enlighten you on today's experience. I finally signed my contract - they had originally said they would pay for two roundtrip tickets to the US each year, but my contract says one; that's ok - I figure I will make one nice long trip and spend my other free days travelling the world. Sorry guys - blame fugro. :) Other than that, I can't really complain too much about the conditions, one of which is the potential to be relocated to other offices in the region (see below). I was asked to bring in my passport so that ... read more
Resort hotel

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai June 18th 2012

This will be fairly short as today was an exhausting day. But I love those days! I was trying so hard to finish the Qatar report before the shuttle, but I still have about 2 hours of work left on it. Oh well. yeah, I'm thinking the Qatar office is a mess - the lab data was all over the place, arrived at random times, and the writing is strange. So, I'm thinking I could do a lot of good in Qatar, since they don't even have an engineer. But I don't know - that's a lot of responsibility too. I guess we'll see. What didn't go so well at work is that I didn't get any further in the apartment hunt. I am only in my hotel until the 30th, so I need to line ... read more

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai June 16th 2012

Since I was unable to purchase my dress at the Dubai Mall yesterday (for whatever reason... there were about 100 stores to choose from and I tried on about 50 dresses - maybe there were just TOO many options!), I made myself go to the Mall of the Emirates and buy a dress within a specific timeframe. I won't say where I bought my dress, because it is so simple and so American... but hey - we were supposed to dress to represent our country anyway. I bought shoes to go with it as well as some jewelry because I just don't have that much jewelry (actually, I have a ton but I rarely wear any). I picked a royal blue strapless dress. I had to wear a sweater over it because you're supposed to cover ... read more
Joevet, me and Silpa

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai June 15th 2012

I actually slept in til almost 11 today! I woke up for about an hour around 6, but then crashed again. I waited for the lunch buffet that had been so amazing last week, but was severely disappointed. I must have come to an unusual event last time. Oh well. So, I just decided to take some food to my room. I chose a steak sandwich. Big mistake. The steak was hard as a rock and it was just gross. The fries were ok; it kept me from starving. Joevet, Joselet and their cousin came to pick me up at 2 to go to the Dubai Mall, which is near Burj Khalifa. Joevet and I needed to pick out a dress for tomorrow's dinner. This mall is even better than the Mall of the Emirates, which ... read more
Me, the girls and Burj
J Twins, Cousin and Waterfall
Traditional Dance from above

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai June 14th 2012

Before I got into the shower this morning, I tried the scale as I noticed my face feels thinner and I have been eating very little. Yesterday it said 6 lbs were lost and I just wanted to verify. Then I realized that I had been reading the mark on the scale wrong because of the shadow. I have really lost about 8 lbs in two weeks!!! I checked a few times just to makes sure that I was not hallucinating, but yep - eight el bees. I am proud of myself. Of course, this has a lot to do with the fact that i am not drinking any alcohol and I am too much of a wuss to go into a few of the nearby eateries by myself, but whatever the reason, I am happy. ... read more
Photo 3
Photo 4
Photo 5

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai June 13th 2012

Ok, let me first just say that I got "take away" from a nearby restaurant for dinner - chicken curry, spicy. And BOY is it spicy!!!! I have identified three different types of peppers (two by look, one by accidentally eating) left in the curry sauce and my mouth is on FIRE. I LOVE IT! Plus, I have enough rice to last me the next couple of days, so no matter what happens, I guess I won't starve. Not a whole lot happened - still working on the same two projects which are on the downside on my end. Still eating lunch in the pantry with Zenah - today she brought in a tomato based dinner with rice - green beans and some kind of meat. She is deceptively fluent in English, but she doesn't know ... read more
Coke in Arabic
Emirates money

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai June 12th 2012

My taxi driver returned this morning! Yay! I walked out of the supermarket around 8:20 and he was sitting in front of my hotel. He was like "I came on Sunday like we said." I told him I waited on Sunday from 7:55 to 8:15. He shut up after that, but took me a good way to work and agreed to return tomorrow at 8:15. We shall see... Work was busy today with my big report and I seem to have found a kindred spirit in the Qatar office. I only spoke to him once on the phone, but after multiple emails I think we have similar personalities - and you all know how loveable I am. Zenah and I have been getting along well and we decided to eat lunch at the Fugro pantry today. ... read more
View of the Business Bay area
Lights on!
Tea!




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