Returning to Riding need Support/Riding buddies?

[shootingstar]

Hmmm. Well it is very Western there. Living in a new country has lots of challenges (CR is the third non-US country I have lived in) but, the UAE wasn't as difficult as you would think. If I were not white and obviously "Western" I would have had more problems for sure. But overall I wasn't affected much by the Islamic culture (in a negative way). There are many other difficult issues that had nothing to do with Islam. I think preparation was key, I knew about the rules well before I arrived so I was prepared and excited to experience a new culture. The hardest part was having to walk from the car to the shop in 120 degree weather in long sleeves and jeans!

I knew a woman worked in Dubai for a few months ...50 degree C weather. She came from the Philippines and has engineering college education.
Sorry to say but some of the Middle Eastern countries have a lot to clean-up how they do treat some of their temporary (construction) labourers which includes their nannies from abroad.

[andirae13]

I knew a woman worked in Dubai for a few months ...50 degree C weather. She came from the Philippines and has engineering college education.
Sorry to say but some of the Middle Eastern countries have a lot to clean-up how they do treat some of their temporary (construction) labourers which includes their nannies from abroad.

You are not wrong at all. The Human Rights issues are atrocious. You'll notice that I no longer live there (primarily for this reason) and that I was clear to say that as a "white American" my life was easier than others. The realities of the country go far beyond what I think is appropriate conversation for a cycling forum and my own abilities, as I can only speculate or tell stories "I've heard". It is an interesting place to live, you'd never see the real UAE in a visit, but not somewhere that I could feel comfortable for longer than my work contract, and not somewhere I really have much desire to return to.