G is for...Garretts Popcorn

Ok, so I know Garretts Popcorn isn't an Abu Dhabi thing, but it is apart of my Abu Dhabi experience. Let me explain. 


Garretts happens to be the BESTEST popcorn in the whole wide world. It's Chicago-style popcorn.

Best. Popcorn. Ever.

I was born in Chicago and lived there til a few months before my eighth birthday. I still have family in Chicago. Whenever the Houston family go back home to Chicago, what is one of the places we absolutely MUST visit? Why, the Garretts Popcorn shop, of course. If we came back to Houston without Garretts, the rest of the fam would not be happy.


Oh how I love the yummylisciousness of the Chicago Mix. Side Note: I know I've made up a new word in "yummylisciousness" but I'm a writer, so I can do that...call it poetic license if you must. Anyway, the Chicago Mix is Caramel Crisp popcorn mixed with Cheese Popcorn. The sweet flavor of caramel mixed with the cheesy flavor of cheese...YUM! 

Chicago Mix

 And, since I have a sweet tooth, I can eat the Caramel Crisp all by itself.

Caramel Crisp

So, what does this have to do with my Abu Dhabi experience? There are not one, but TWO Garretts Popcorn shops in Dubai, both located in the Dubai Mall. Do you know how ecstatic I was when I heard this? Sweet, cheesy yummylisciousness only an hour away. And before you ask, YES, if I had a car, I would so make that hour trip just to get the popcorn, it's just that good. I've had friends wonder about my Garretts obsession. They thought I was crazy...til they tasted it. They love it, of course.

If you have never tasted Garretts before, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Chicago and Dubai are the only places I know of that has shops, but you can order it online. Watch out, tho. You just may become addicted!

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F is for...Free

I love that word. Free. 

Another thing that attracted me to teaching in Abu Dhabi - besides the beaches - was the benefits from the employer. I mean, an untaxed salary? Travel allowance at the end of each school year? Furniture/appliance allowance? Living rent-FREE in a high rise apt? Yeah, I was so there. I don't know what I expected when they told us they'd put us up in housing. It sure wasn't a high-rise apartment. I love my roomy, 2 bedroom home away from home. And I have an awesome view. My only bill is the cable/internet bill. We will eventually start paying electricity, but that hasn't happened yet. Here is a pic of my apt building...

So, yeah. Free is an excellent word!

And now for more Arabic vocabulary...

Febrayer (feb-brah-yer) - February

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E is for...Emirati vs Expat

E is for Emirati vs Expat


The locals in the UAE are called Emiratis. Less than 20% of the UAE population are native Emiratis.The rest of the residents are known as Expats (expatriates), people who've moved here for work. Though most of the people who live in AD are expats, it's the Emirati people who hold most of the money. The word emirati actually means "commander". 


And now for some Arabic vocabulary...


Esmee - My name is...

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D is for...Dubai

D is for Dubai


Dubai is not only the name of an emirate in the UAE, but it's also the name of a city in the emirate. Dubai has the largest population and the second largest land territory in all of UAE. Let me just say that, while I love Abu Dhabi, I LOVE Dubai. I guess cos it reminds me more of the US than Abu Dhabi. Parts of Dubai looks like a big, busy US city. Dubai is home to several cool buildings and designs.

Atlantis, The Palm

Burj Al Arab - one of the world's most luxurious hotels

Burj Khalifa - the tallest building in the world, featured in Mission Impossible 4

The Palm - a set of islands in the shape of a palm tree

The World - a set of islands in the shape of the world; still under construction

This is what it'll look like when completed!

And now for Arabic vocabulary...

dub - bear

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Coming Up...

My D, E, and F posts are coming. I've been busy showing my mom, who's here in Abu Dhabi on vacation, around town. But I promise the posts are coming....just running behind. :D

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C is for...

C is for Cars


One thing I've noticed here in Abu Dhabi is the fact that they are all about cars (among other things). I guess if you're worth $17 million, you can do that, right? I think I've mentioned before that it is said that the average Emirati is worth $17 million. Whether that's true or not, I don't know. But sometimes, looking around, you'd think it is. Anywho, back to cars.


Porshes, BMWs, Range Rovers, Bentleys...you name it, I've probably seen it. All decked out, shining, tinted windows, etc. The men love their cars. And they love racing them, too. They have the Formula One races here on Yas Island, so I'm sure some of the men fashion themselves race car drivers. They sure do act like it. I'm always hearing them rev up their cars.


And they have an interesting system on the license plate tags, too. From what I hear, the lower the number, the more important you are. For example, a car with the tag # 33 would be more important than a car with a tag that has, say #436 400. The lowest number I've seen is a 10, which means that person was pretty darn important...part of the royal family, perhaps?


Here's a pic of fancy cars...

And now for Arabic vocabulary...


I don't know any Arabic words yet that, when written in English, would start with the letter "c", so I'm gonna do a "c" English word. Since I blogged about cars, I'll use that.


C is for car


car = sayara (sigh - yara)

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B is for...

B is for Beaches!


One of the things that sold me on moving to Abu Dhabi is the fact that it is an island, which means it's surrounded by water, which means...BEACHES! I am such a beach bum. I love the sound of the waves, the feel of sand under my feet. I love all things beachy (except the heat...can't stand the heat). I'm from Houston, where the closest beach is Galveston. Now, I love Galveston, but the water there leaves something to be desired. It's not the blue/green/turquoise color you see on pictures or movies. But here in Abu Dhabi? Here in Abu Dhabi, the water is gorgeous! Take a look for yourself...

Gorgeous, right? And the best thing is, Abu Dhabi is surrounded by beaches. I'm just minutes away from several beaches. Absolute paradise!

And now for more Arabic vocabulary...

B is for Bunee

Bunee (boo - nee) = brown

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