Almost Home

Wow. I know it's been a long time since I've posted anything, and I'm sure you're starting to wonder what happened to me. Well, I'm on a vacation...of sorts. I'm visiting my dad. He works overseas with a contract company from the U.S. I'm in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and I've gotten to do and see things I never imagined I would do. Yesterday we went on a desert safari and almost lost our lunch in an all-terrain vehicle as our driver took us up and over the largest sand dunes I've ever seen. This is a picture of me during our 5 min. break. The sand was incredible, it felt like powder.

This is Dubai. EVERYTHING is under construction in Dubai. I don't know if you can see it, but all the buildings have a crane on the top which makes them look like little insects. There are very few finished projects in Dubai, and the ones that are finished have roads that aren't.

I think this picture is very interesting as well. It's a picture of a traditional beduoin hut with the city skyline in the background. It's a very here's-where-we've-been-and-where-we're-going type picture. This places has changed A LOT in the last 40 years since it was established as a nation and it's been interesting to learn about its past and see its future. I do believe that the people here are trying to make something different of themselves and not fall into the stereotype that the rest of the world has of Muslim countries.
However, I can't help but look around me and think that they might have bitten off more than they can chew. I was surprised to learn that Dubai with all its construction, The Palms, The World, Dubai Ski, The Burj Al-Arab, the Burj Tower does not have the flow of oil money that Abu Dhabi has and when the economy started to fall apart a year ago, Dubai suffered the same collapse as the rest of the world. Unsustainable building at a completely unsustainable rate.
I suppose it's not my job to worry about it. I should just enjoy my time here seeing a different place and learning about a different culture, and so that's what I'm doing. It definitely has been interesting and I leave tomorrow to go home. And, I'm ready, I miss my sisters, my mom, my niece and nephew, my fiance and I'm looking forward to seeing them again. I hope you enjoy these pictures and I'll post some more when I get home. Ahh, home. :)