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Monthly Archives: September 2015

Is it the holidays yet?

22 Tuesday Sep 2015

Posted by mrsladymuck in Mrs Lady Muck, Parenting, School

≈ 1 Comment

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Abu Dhabi bloggers, back to school, charity, Eid, expat, expat bloggers, Holidays, inabudhabi, MrsLadyMuck, parenting, UAE bloggers

In Muck Towers, we’ve had a really busy summer.  I mean REALLY busy.  We’ve hardly been at home, having stayed with family, friends and then had a proper holiday at the end of the summer before heading back to work, school and everyday life in Abu Dhabi.

So, when the first week of September arrived, I was feeling pretty pleased with ourselves.  We totally hit the ground running – new school uniforms, shoes, name labels, bags, folders and stationary had all been purchased in July, and we were out of the door, good to go.  Smug? Yes I am.  Last year, one child had to go to school in a pair of MY socks, as I hadn’t sorted her out with new ones, and I hadn’t been allowed to forget it. (I wasn’t as bad as my friend who sent her child in with her Dad’s flask of coffee, having mistaken it for her metallic water bottle.   Fortunately the child realized before drinking out of it, but then announced her Mum’s mistake very loudly to the rest of the drop-off crowd.  Thanks, 7-year-old.)

So, yes, back to school 2015 – I nailed it. And that particular friend did too! New school term? Bring it on!

And this week we have a shorter working week in Abu Dhabi, as the Eid al Adha holiday approaches.  As a non-Muslim, you may be surprised to learn that this particular festival has HUGE significance for me.  Traditionally in the Arab world, this is a time when local families come together to celebrate the festival with prayers at the Mosque, and succulent food to share.  My Emirati friends spend time applying henna, preparing special Eid clothes and gifts for each other, and resting up in preparation for visiting their nearest and dearest.

An Emirati Eid family celebration

An Emirati Eid family celebration | photo by Fatema Hassan Ali Al-Dhaheri

As expats, living here gives us the opportunity to teach our children some of the shared caring values that transcend religion.  In the spirit of sacrifice and giving, we are collecting toiletries and food gifts for all of the cleaners and security staff who work in our school.

Donations from our school children for the cleaners and security guards

Donations from our school children for the cleaners and security guards

At home, we’re going through the wardrobes and toy cupboards and giving away things we no longer need to people who can use them.  Even pieces of furniture and random old picture frames are going to www.takemyjunkuae.com who clean them up and pass them on to people who need them.

And for me? Eid al Adha was when our first little Muck entered the world, almost seven years ago.  Through the fog of tiredness, shock and exhilaration, I suddenly had a tiny baby in my arms.  The hospital in Dubai had a festive atmosphere, and a feeling of love and joy in the air, as families were off work and able to be together.  I’ll never forget how grateful I was to have made it through 48 hours of labour, and to be holding my little girl.

Getting to this point was NOT this peaceful

Getting to this point was slightly less peaceful than it may appear

This year, we’ll be at home as a family, NOT doing the school run for a couple of extra days, and catching up with each other and friends who we haven’t seen in far too long.  I might be keen to get the little ones back to school next week, but right now a long weekend together will be the perfect “holiday” for us.  Whatever you’re doing this week – whether you’re celebrating, working, going away or it’s business as usual – have a good one! Eid Mubarak!

The grass is always greener? Let’s hope so

06 Sunday Sep 2015

Posted by mrsladymuck in Childhood, Mrs Lady Muck

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Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi bloggers, charity, expat, expat bloggers, inabudhabi, migrant, redcross, refugee, UAE, uaebloggers

It’s been a long time since I’ve written a blog post, and I had already started drafting a post about how the grass always seems greener, having spent a glorious summer in the UK, away from the 50-degree heat of the desert.  But then the reality of the devastating refugee crisis began to gain traction across the media, and now there is a humiliating layer of context to this position which cannot be denied.

So there’s not a lot of humour in this blog post, but there’s a whole lot of heart.  And some suggestions about what you can do if you’re also a migrant and might not be geographically close by, but fortunate enough to have landed on truly more plentiful times.

How to be a fortunate migrant…

There are so many special things about Abu Dhabi, but one in particular is our tight-knit community.  As so many of us are living here without families close by, our friends take on an extra supportive role, and become like family.

As an expat, it can sometimes be hard to integrate with the local community, as we tend to find comfort and commonalities amongst people of own culture.  I originally came out to the Middle East to work for an international organisation, as did my husband.  I was so fortunate to meet people from all over the world.  It was more difficult to make friends with Emiratis, as our cultures are so different, but the few I can now count as friends are open-minded and as respectful to me as I am to them.

When I was invited to a Suhoor during the holy month of Ramadan at the house of a wonderful Emirati friend, I knew it would be an extra special meal.  Particularly as my friend is also a master baker and the talented chef behind the home-baked brand that is taking the culinary world of Abu Dhabi by storm: Crunch and Crumble.  Turns out, she can rustle up a pretty splendid Suhoor too.

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It was an absolute honour to be invited into this beautiful Emirati home, and be treated to home-made bread, samosas, an incredible meatball tagine and basbousa for dessert.  Even more of a treat, we were requested to dress in jalabea – traditional Arabic evening dresses, with long sleeves, full of colour and glimmering with sequins and jewels.  We had a sparkling night, and my only regret was – as usual – not being able to finish everything on my plate.

Photo edited to respect the privacy of our wonderful host

Photo edited to respect the privacy of our wonderful host

Today I feel so lucky to be a migrant and not a refugee.  To have actively chosen to move country, been welcomed with open arms by the locals, and able to work in a country that is not my country of birth. To have a British passport and a valid work visa permitting me to stay in a safe, peaceful country, which has welcomed a melting pot of cultures to create a truly international community.

There have always been refugees in the world, but watching the steady stream of people walk across Europe to seek refuge in a safer country, has hit home. It’s not just the horrific pictures of children, but the reality that the majority of these people are peace-loving families who have been forced out of their homes.

When it’s safer to put your children in a dinghy and cross the ocean than to stay in your home country, it tells you something of the atrocities that are happening today.  Our long flights to and from our home countries this summer suddenly don’t seem so bad.

How to help

I’m no expert on how to help, but I opted to donate money to the British Red Cross.  They are a charity I trust to actively contribute towards improving the lives of the Syrian refugees.  There is an URGENT APPEAL as the refugee crisis in Europe continues to grow.  Click here to donate:

http://www.redcross.org.uk/

The Independent also published a list of other ways in which we can help here:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/5-practical-ways-you-can-help-refugees-trying-to-find-safety-in-europe-10482902.html

Anyone else missing their motherland?

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