February 2008

I am basically spending most of my time at work with foreign nationals.  But my constant companions for my current assignment are two Indians.  We easily adjusted with each other’s accents, points of view, and other things except for one thing.  One of the main reasons why inter-racial marriage is not encouraged in their part is the major adjustment for food. 

Whenever we are in the Emirates’ capital city, dining out is no much problem for us.  Usually they dine together in the Indian restaurants nearby.  Moreso, there are many Filipino food hubs aside from the popular global fastfood chains around.  I usually meet up with other friends (who also moved here for work and some to settle for good) for lunch.  Until we went for a three-day assignment in Dubai.  Good thing that we were coming back home daily.

On our first day, the three of us went out for lunch altogether, for the first time.  It took us almost an hour to finally decide where to dine.  Well, there was no Indian nor Filipino restaurants nearby.  So we unconciously took long walks, roaming around only to find mostly Iranian and Arabian food.  Until we passed a street that offers oriental food.  It was a yipeeee moment… I so thought. We all agreed for a chinese restaurant.  But the problem didn’t end soon.  They are both vegetarians AND they both hate seafoods.  OMG!  So we inquired from three oriental restaurants about purely veggies offer and they don’t have except for the soup.  Another consideration was that there must be no other diners eating seafoods at the moment cause they find it too smelly and cannot tolerate it.

The more that I realized that Filipinos are more adaptable to any form of change/adjustment.  If only there was an Indian food, we could have grabbed it right away and I will bear the helly spices.  After more walks, we ended up at Pizza Corner (literally situated at the corner).  So they ordered a vegetarian pizza (specially prepared for them).  While I had to be very careful with my order. Seafoods pasta is one of my all-time favorites and I immediately declined the craving.  I kindheartedly chose carbonara with mushrooms and chicken.  One of them tasted it while the other one obviously didn’t even thought about trying it.  They offered me slices of the vegetarian pizza.  But my tongue chickened after seeing all those spices being spread on top, and suddenly it became a red pizza after they poured in tabasco pepper sauce all over.

The next two days and I had my packed lunch.  They went out settling for the vegetarian burgers.

{ 0 comments }

I had my first valentine out of the country.  Before coming here, I did a considerable amount of research (of course, it was a big decision) including the tradition and other practices.  True enough, net information is not conclusively dependable.  Written was that it is a pagan belief to observe valentine’s day here.  Perhaps because it is an open city and though not that grand and commercialized like in the Philippines, valentine’s day was openly celebrated here.  Flowers more than the chocolates (very common here, that’s why) sold like hotcakes, etc.

We were asked to wear something red on February 14.  Back home, I never wore red for that occasion.  I find it a little shameful and traditional.  But after college, I remember that I always wore red on my birthday though I am not chinese.  So, the office was flaming red last thursday.  And because I am so engrossed with work (muahahaha!), I totally forgot (or I just did not intend to participate?) about the contest.

Before leaving the office, I checked the message boards and surprisingly (or maybe I am just not “in”) mushy love notes were there.  I need not write an example.  I am leaving to your imagination the cheesiest and mushiest scribble. I never thought these people will do that… anyway, we all have hearts.

The highlight of my V-day was when I finally had my Vasha Chocolatier box.  I was so drawn to this chocolate house that this reminded me so of the movie Chocolat.  And I feel like watching it again.  For dinner, I craved for Domino’s Pizza  and got it while chatting with several people back home.

So how was your V-day?

{ 0 comments }

I am writing this while waiting for a friend (back in the Philippines) who is sleeping over from Dubai.  She wanted to come last weekend but I begged off since I was then transferring from Asfar Hotel to my Abi home (I assume I am not moving to another flat,  the thought of fixing and moving is tiring already).  It is 10:30 PM here and I suppose she is coming in half an hour.  By then, I will be meeting her from the building’s ground floor (I am at the second floor, anyway).  I am expecting sort of sleepless night, you know girls’ talk and other stuff.

Fridays and saturdays comprise the official weekend here.  I was in St. Joseph Church in Kaniza Street today to join the 12:00 noon Tagalog mass.    It was my second time there and I was still amazed by the number of Filipinos that I saw there.  I just could not imagine when all Filipino catholics are gathered there during christmas eve and other occasions. 

After the mass, we had a potluck.  We ordered pancit miki bihon from an oriental restaurant and had it delivered here.  We bought a bucket meal from Southern Fried Chicken (the nicest chicken house here), fruit salad ice cream from Selecta and someone brought a real good mango cheesecake (reminded me of my refrigerator cakes)  with three fresh strawberries on top.  That cake was chosen when a pal asked  for the best cake in the house,  the crew said “Just look for the cake prepared by Willy, a Filipino”… that is wow!

While dining, we watched TV patrol, Wowowee and Maalaala mo Kaya.  Well, I am more of a Kapuso (GMA network patron) hence, all these seemed new (again) for me.  But it didn’t matter much, the gift of company,time and sharing of stories on the side of dining counted most.  I was more taken aback by Jun Lozada’s expose and other usual not so good news back home.  When you are in a foreign land, you feel for your own and suddenly view the situations as helpless - more directed to the government.  SInce I got here and I intend to continue, I frequent on Inquirer.net and a few political and Pinoy-centric blogs.

Now, hunger strikes.  I feel like getting a slice of the yummy mango cheese cake.  I never thought mixing the seemingly right amount of mango, cheese and strawberry would be incredibly delicious.  I will be muching while giving maybe few minutes thought about Jun Lozada’s true reason for coming out. 

{ 0 comments }

In my second night here in Abi, I got an invite from an officemate for a dinner treat.  I was not yet officially reporting for work then.   I wanted  to try arabic food.  I think it is sort of old-fashioned if you will never explore during your first few days.  My colleague was a little amazed of this exploration, and it was too late to realize that such was a treat and it will be  a shame if I will eat just like a birdie if in case I hadn’t like the authentic arabian taste.

We went to Mugg and Bean in Abu Dhabi Mall and we had real spicy chicken, nuggets as a breather, and I ordered an arabian plate.  A fresh orange juice (nothing so distinct) and white choco frap (far different from Coffee Bean’s ice blends and Starbucks frappe, theirs tasted and looked like a halo-halo) on the side.  The chicken nuggets were tastier than the usual, the several pieces of chicken were spicy enough but were manageable for a chili person that I am. 

The arabian plate was challenging.  It has olives, weird spread that tasted like kabab, lotsa new taste for me.  I dared to taste every weird thing in that plate and I realized that I am just that not ready for it.  I managed to take in some, but arabian plate is not something that I would order when I am so hungry.  On the contrary, I should have that when I am religiously trying to loose weight.

Any arabian food experience? 

{ 0 comments }