Boston tragedy

I've been following the events for four hours and it is really, really time for me to go to bed.

A right-wing crazy friend of mine on FB posted this

Ah, and once again where the Muslim Community is given an opportunity to decry this cowardly act which took the lives of innocents and 8 year old girls, instead at best, crickets, and at worst, the shouts of praise from the bombers' fellow muslims.
But yeah, most Muslims are peaceful and hate this sort of thing right?  Right?

This is a guy who graduated from my HS with zero friends.  I was relentless from Jr. High on making fun of him because he's as despicable a human being as I have ever met.  I accepted his friend request on FB as a "Seriously?"  and I've enjoyed just seeing how crazy he could be.

I, of course, had to respond:

Speaking as a Christian raised not very far from you (and now living in the Muslim world) I have to say you are such an amazing piece of shit.

*******
This tragic event happened late at night in the middle east.  There is NO official reaction from anyone with any authority here.  I very much hope the person who did this was not Arab or Muslim.  I think the right-wing crazies (like the guy I quoted above) are just scared this is one of their own.

I'm rich! I'm rich!

Not really... but after not being able to log in to my bank back home for months I was finally able and surprise, surprise! I actually have more money there than I expected.  Like $2000 more.  It means I don't have to send money home this month like I thought.  Or next month.

I should be kicking myself for not doing much of anything during the two week spring break.  After all, I had more money than I thought.  I soo wish DC had worked out.  I wanted to see Gina and her family and take in the museums and monuments.

Instead of kicking myself I am content.  This opens more options.  I will probably still do summer school but if I decide not to I won't spend the summer broke like I did in the summer of 2010.  That summer I spent 3 months back in Iowa trying to live on a tight budget.  It was just not fun.  I'd rather work summer school, come home and have a great time for 3 weeks than to be pinching pennies and be home for 3 months.

With this new found cash in my bank I could possibly have a summer at home and not feel desperately broke.  I'll probably still do summer school because I just don't like that much time off... but it's nice to have options.

******
Bigger news:  I am officially free of all credit card debt.  I was broke in 2005 and I closed all credit card accounts that had not already been closed for me. (read: I couldn't keep up with payments) The one account I was never delinquent was Bank of America where I've been paying $60/month since.  I had no idea what my balance was but I assumed I would be paying $60/month until 2060.

Starting last fall Dad saw checks in the mail from B of A.  $240 one time... a few months later $180...

It turns out my account has been paid off and now every couple of months they are sending my money back to me.  Yippee!

This is the second time in my life I have paid off $6-10,000 in credit card debt and vowed to never have that debt again.  Let's hope the vow sticks this time.

North Korean restaurant

A long time ago I heard that there was a North Korean restaurant in Dubai.  As one who likes trying new things this was very tempting.

Finding it took some walking but the weather was spectacular - low 80's - in Dubai.  (Usually it is in the mid-90's by now.)  I wish I could show pictures of the place but they had signs about not taking pictures.  I did, however, take a few pictures of the food I ate.

The decor was relatively simple and very clean.  Some paintings on the walls and references to Korea.  Interestingly there was no picture of the dear leader.  There were no customers when we arrived at 2 but they quickly made us feel welcome.

The waitresses:  Four identical looking women wearing identical lime green perfectly pressed polyester uniforms.  It was like I stepped back to the 1950's and met airline stewardesses.  The cliche of they all look alike came to life as the third one asked where we were from and a friend said, "Didn't you just ask us that?" They did have one descriptive feature:  Different colored platform neon shoes.

We took a pass on the steamed intestines with rice and squid.

We ordered kimchi, what they called bbq beef (marinated flank steak is my guess), a basic salad, needle mushroom salad and a beef with rice dish.  I knew I wouldn't like the kimchi - way too spicy - but my Arab friends liked it.  I loved the rest.

What you are seeing:  The marinated steak was cooked at our table.  The waitress/chef cut them into small pieces.  She suggested making a wrap using the needle mushroom salad.  It was great!

While I was eating the beef dish I found a long black hair.  The manager saw it and immediately came over and apologized.  Then each of the waitresses apologized.  I know that really grosses a lot of people out but it didn't really bother me.  

As an apology they brought us a desert:

A simple vanilla ice cream with fresh strawberries minced on top.

Dubai Marina

After the North Korean restaurant we went for a walk at the Dubai Marina.  The weather was fantastic and the Marina is always a nice look into the world of how the rich live.

 Youssef is my Moroccan friend with whom I hope to visit Morocco someday.

 Abdul Hakim with Youssef.  

After the great lunch my friends pretty much switched to speaking in Arabic and I felt like a third wheel.  I probably should have spoken up - as I have before... but since it's a point I've made before I decided to stew about it and let it pretty much ruin my day.

I need to find more constructive ways to communicate.

A wet spring in Iowa?

Tonight we are having our first thunderstorm in a year in Al Ain.  I'm happy and feeling homesick because a thunderstorm here is pretty much nothing compared to a real thunderstorm.

After last year's drought across the midwest this is good news:

According to this model it is likely have above normal rain  back home for April - June.  I so hope they have this right.  Iowa in a drought is depressing.  I was happy I was living in the desert last summer.  

World's reserve currency

Before my failed trip to the US I went to exchange dirhams for dollars.  Here is some of the money I received:

So geek, what is special about this?  First, notice that the serial numbers are in order.  I took out $2000 and it was all in order.  That means it was the first time this money has ever been used.  Money printed in the US, distributed by our Fed is used for the first time at a money exchange place in Al Ain, UAE.  How many millions of $100 bills are printed each year and distributed to the central banks around the world?  I don't have an answer but it amazes me that every time I exchange money here I get crisp, never used-before money.

Also, check out the date.  This money was printed in 2006.  It's not only crisp and never used before but it is also 7 years old!  Ben, where have they kept you all these years?

*****
My geekyness started young.  I loved the feel and smell of a brand new crisp bills from the bank.  I still do but I don't spend much time sniffing my money.  Mohamed was with me while I was packing and commented, "Your money smell funny."  He's got a point:  Of the dozen or so other currencies I have touched I don't think any of them have a distinctive smell like the greenback.

Time to unpack?

It's been three days since the trip to DC was canceled.  I cannot bring myself to unpack.

The gifts of camels, the Dubai bag, etc., can be sent later.  The chocolate dates will probably find another home.  The German chocolate next to it was Miriam's idea.  She advised me to take lots of chocolate to her grandkids.  It's no wonder they love her!

Bust.

In five years I have come back to the US seven times.  Twice I have used the American Airlines website to book the ticket.  No problems.

Last week I saw an incredibly cheap fare for DC - a new Etihad direct flight.  Less than $600 to fly to DC???  Too good to be true.  The ticket price on Etihad was 4700 dirhams ($1280) but the price on American's website was only 2100 dirhams ($560).   For reasons I don't know, American often sells Etihad tickets cheaper than Etihad sells them... but never less than half price.

When I first tried to book it I screwed up my security code on the back.  (The numbers had worn off so I read them wrong.)  The card was rejected.  I called the bank and they said it would take a few hours to clear up and try again.

Later I tried and everything seemed fine.  The card was processed, I received a confirmation and even a seat assignment.

What I didn't get worried me:  I always get a text for purchases over $100.  No text came.  

If I didn't have the text feature I would have shown up at the airport complete unaware there was any problem.  

Last night Etihad told me, "We see your reservation with American but they have not issued the ticket.  We can't issue you the ticket."  I called American and was told there was odd problem but it could be cleared up.  "No problem" I was assured.

I finished packing.

Late last night I still didn't get the text saying the charge was on the card so I called American again.  After trying and trying I was told they couldn't process it but I should just show up at the airport and pay for the ticket there.  I was told again, "No problem."

Mohamed drove me the 90 minute drive to the airport.  We got in line at the ticket counter only to be told Etihad has no ability to process an American Airline ticket. (Not surprising.)  As we were taking my suitcases back to the car I reached American by phone.  The woman was so supportive I told Mohamed, "Let's start walking back - she thinks she can make this work."

Nope.  

Mohamed and I ate breakfast and headed back to Al Ain.  Basically, today was a 3 hour trip to an airport McDonalds.

DC or bust!

For reasons I cannot explain, American Airlines is not able to process my credit card.  They say it will not be a problem and I will be able to pay when I check in.  I booked with American because the fare was less than half the price of booking directly with Etihad.  I will be flying only on Etihad - it's a direct flight from Abu Dhabi to Washington.

You can track the flight here:

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/ETD131/history/20130401/0704Z/OMAA/KIAD

I hope I am on it!

DC for $583???

My favorite airline - Etihad - is starting a non-stop service for DC.  Since it is a new route they are offering some great deals.  I might fly out on Monday or Tuesday...

Airline	Stops	Departs	Arrives	Duration		Price
American Airlines	AUH → IAD (0)	10:00	17:00	16h		AED 2,142	+ details
	IAD → AUH (0)	22:15	19:45 (13 Apr)	12h 30m
GOING THERE: Tuesday, 2 April, 2013 fare breakup   American Airlines AA 5991 Operated by:Etihad Airways Dep: 10:00 Terminal 3, Abu Dhabi International Airport, Abu Dhabi (AUH) 16h Economy Arr: 17:00 Washington Dulles, Washington Dc (IAD) COMING BACK: Friday, 12 April, 2013   American Airlines AA 5978 Operated by:Etihad Airways Dep: 22:15 Washington Dulles, Washington Dc (IAD) 12h 30m Economy Arr: 19:45 Terminal 3, Abu Dhabi International Airport, Abu Dhabi (AUH) ARRIVES NEXT DAY

Don't you dare think of bringing melatonin into this country!

Travis is a good friend who I am sure will not be offended by making fun of him.

He is getting on the plane in a few hours to come here and he just told me he has decided not to bring any melatonin or unisom because he has read that could be a problem when he enters the country.

Umm, no.  I assured him that nobody - and I mean NOBODY - will give a damn in customs.

But I know his feeling.  I read all the warnings before I came here and I thought of many ways I could "get in trouble."  So while I am laughing at him I also understand his fear.

Also, his mother read that somebody in Saudi Arabia has SARS.

A friend of Ann & Mike's almost didn't come after his mother looked up lots of horrible things.

I totally get it - it was me in the summer of 2008 - but it's just laughable once you get here.

Student suggestions

I told my classes that I will be having my first visitor from the US.  I showed my suggestions of things to do and asked for their input.

Student 1:  "Take him to Rashed Ali"

Rashed Ali is a place where the food is cheap - something close to a burrito for $.75 - but the meat highly suspect.

Student 2:  "Then you can take him to Tawam Hospital.  It will be a two-for-one!"

Things to do in the UAE

I will be updating this list over the next couple of days...

Al Ain

• Stone grill (cook a steak on a hot stone)
• Al Noor restaurant (best moutabal)
• A walk through the oasis
• A trip up Jebel Hafeet (our one tiny nearby mountain provides an overlook of the city)
• A desert trip - the sand here is more like powder than sand
• Camel races (at this time of year they only race very early on Saturday mornings... is it worth getting up at 6?  I'll leave that up to Travis)
• Camel market 
• Downtown souk
• Cross over into Oman (just to say you've done it)
• Duning
• Fort and museum at Jahili park. 

Dubai

• Dubai Mall - World's biggest mall and has an interesting indoor aquarium
• Emirates Mall - the indoor ski slope has to be seen to be believed
• Burj Khalifa - the world's tallest building... I've been waiting for a visitor to have an excuse to go up
• Sheikh Zayed Road - I don't know if it is the world's only 14 lane road but it is hard to imagine a larger freeway
• Burj Al Arab - it calls itself the world's only seven star hotel.  I'd like to go in but I've heard it's over $100 just to have coffee...

Abu Dhabi

• Sheikh Zayed mosque - 
• Qasr al Hosn - the oldest building in the country
• Emirates Palace Hotel (the place with the gold ATM)
• Yas waterpark
• Ferrari World
• A walk along the corniche (sidewalk along the Gulf)
• Kayaking through mangroves 

Opportunity cost and visiting the Emirates

My newly unemployed friend Travis (see post below) is already hard at work finding a new job.  Fortunately he decided that he could take ten days off to come visit the Emirates.  It's already warmer than I'd like for doing anything outside but since Trav has lived in Texas and Arizona for the past 15 years I think he can handle it.

My first visitor!  Yippee!

Economics presents the idea of opportunity cost:  What is the value of the next best option?  If the next best option is better, we will change what we do.  It's hard to convince someone who gets two weeks of vacation to eat up all of that vacation traveling to the other side of the planet. There are always better uses of their time and money.  (I have to accept that seeing me is just not enough of a draw.)  So it makes me sad that I haven't had a visitor in my five years but it does make sense.

Unfortunately, the opportunity cost argument didn't work with my friend Matt while he was studying for the bar... I tried and tried...

A bad week for friends

A friend studied and studied for the GMAT - the test to get into an MBA program.  When he took the exam he scored way below where he should have scored... so far below it is ridiculous.  It reminded me of a college friend who would have been a great lawyer but also scored ridiculously low on the LSAT.  It's too bad these standardized tests carry so much weight.

Another friend was fired after 11 years of faithful service to his company.  Having been there I know what he's going through.  As if the act of being fired is not bad enough, having to explain it over and over again to friends is just plain awful.  In my case I would meet people a year later and they would ask for an explanation.  I gave it and received the response, "That's what I had heard but I assumed there had to be more to it."  No, not really, people get fired for ridiculous things while the mildly incompetent can muddle through for years and years.

Another friend learned that a loved-one's terminal illness is nearing the end.  

If bad news comes in the three's I had my three last week.

Mitt Romney explains himself

Here's a visceral quote from the would-be President.

“What I said is not what I believe." 

- Mitt Romney, in an interview with Fox News, on his infamous 47% comment, leading First Read to conclude "that one sentence sums up Romney's two failed presidential bids."

Presidential candidates often change positions to get the nomination or to get elected.  As a political geek, I can't recall any candidate changing as many positions as Romney.  My beef with the Obama campaign is that they strategically chose to paint Romney as a rich, out-of-touch guy who takes pride at giving lay-off notices and banking in the Cayman islands.  I wanted them to go after him as being a guy with no core values who goes with the direction of the wind. My Romney attack is that he will say anything you want to hear.

What I learned from the campaign books I read while in Nepal?  The Obama campaign tested both attacks and found that independents actually like the flip-flopping Mitt so the Obama campaign went with the Thurston Howell approach.  I disagree but that's why I teach management classes and Axelrod/Plouffe run campaigns.

Is it a good thing?

I had one Emirati friend before coming to the Emirates.  Yousef was a freshman at Coe and in the fraternity I advised when I met him in 2004. We kept in touch after he transferred to the warmer weather of Houston.  

He's completed his degrees and has been looking for work for about a year in the US and the Emirates.  He landed a job in Dubai and will start in May.  I have incredibly mixed feelings for him.  He'll live a much better life here than he could in the US - well paid, have a maid, people to take care of everything.

So what on earth is the downside?  In Houston he led a fabulous life that I don't think will be possible for him here.  In the US we use the term "settle down and get married."  That's just not the life I pictured for my friend but here I don't know that he'll have much choice.

Another day in the life of Steve

On Thursday we had a department meeting.  Fortunately, we only have 2-3 per year so compared to 2-3 per week at Hamilton.  Speaking of, "Writing of" sounds too weird... Anyhow, today is five year anniversary of getting fired.  I worked there a little over 5 years.  Soon, I will have worked here as long.  I've been doing my happy dance all day.

But last Thursday I was far from doing a happy dance.  Long story short, I'm kinda getting screwed by being forced to recreate a class from scratch when there is just no reason to do it.  I have no problem developing classes but fixing a class that isn't broken is just a huge waste of time.  I became quite flustered at the meeting and afterwards headed to meet with my boss. Nothing positive came from the meeting but at least I was able to speak my peace.

Later that night I decided to get some work done and I realized I didn't have my laptop.  "When did I have it last? I took it to the department meeting... and from there..."  I realized I left my laptop in my Hawkeye laptop bag in the conference room.  Being it was the beginning of the weekend there was not much I could do.  On Friday (the first day of the weekend) I dutifully checked the conference room and found nothing.  I contacted the cleaning crew and learned they had picked up nothing.

Did I mention that I knew I had 2-500 dirham bills in the bag?  (That's $270.)

I remained relatively calm for the rest of Friday and Saturday.  On Sunday I arrived at 8AM and looked in lost and found.  Nada.  I found the... well, um, his title is office boy but it's just a phrase I can't use, so lets go with "departmental assistant."  He saw the bag in the room on Thursday and locked it up for me.

I opened the bag and discovered that not only was everything intact, but I had 3-500 dirham bills in there instead of two.  So I could have lost my work computer, my Hawkeye laptop bag, tons of data I haven't backed up in over a year and $400.

March 3 is certainly my lucky day.

Mother's Day

It came a little early for me this year.

I spent a lot of time with my friend Vikram on my last trip to Nepal.  He's one of those genuinely good guys. He used to get up at 4 every morning to milk the family cow and yak and take the milk to market to sell for the family to make a few dollars rupees to live on.

Then his mother got sick.  Really sick.  They had to sell the cow to treat her.  He came to the hotel to work with my friend Sanjaya to help support the family.  That's where I met him two years ago.

On my December 2012 trip Vikram and I bonded and a lot of it was on discussing our mothers.  Sadly, Vikram's mother had a heart attack last week.  She's still alive after the heart attack and (what had to be) a horribly uncomfortable 8 hour bus ride to Kathmandu, but the hospital bills mounted.

That's a bill my friend Vikram could not pay.  It was a bill I could pay and I knew if I didn't MY mother would come back to haunt me.

A semester of extremes

Fall 2012 was an odd semester.  My female classes were really good.  Excellent attendance, they actually paid attention... In one class there were no D's or F's.  I don't think that has happened in 10+ years of teaching.  The class GPA of 3.3 is high enough that I could actually get in trouble for being too generous.

On the other hand, I had two low scoring male classes.  19 out of 40 received a D or an F.  The overall GPA was 1.9 - a record low.

And I also had a somewhat heartbreaking score:  A student who came to every class on time and failed so badly I couldn't find a way to give him a D.  He never spoke to me so I don't know what happened but here it is almost because of language ability.  Trying to take a college class with a working vocabulary of 500 words is just very unfortunate.