Return to the US and our first minivacation: Dubai

This is our first vacation that takes advantage of being on the other side of the world. It's hard to imagine that a week in Dubai is comparable to a mini vacation. I truly am amazed as to how quickly life changes. We just returned for 6 weeks in Houston. Hubby had a lot of work to get done and we took advantage of every free second. We celebrated my favorite holiday there, Halloween of course! and Maddy's 3rd birthday party. It was interesting to go back so soon after leaving. Maddy and I had only been in Saudi for 2 months when we returned. I was amazed at the evidence that time doesn't stand still, in many ways we truly felt like visitors and no longer like residents. I vowed to myself to not visit with anyone I wasn't interested in investing time in, it worked out well. It was a nice luxury to have to, in reflecting I've discovered that I waste a lot of my time trying to please and one up people I'm not even invested in. Trying to turn over a new leaf on that one. I think the thing that struck me the most about being back in the states was how much i missed Saudi. Not in a forever home way but more in a that's our life and routine kinda way. Just surprised myself as to how fast I adapted, didn't know I had that in me.

After a couple travel troubles we arrived in Dubai around 5am this morning. Driving to our villa and passing the main city it has a very US big city feel but then you look up at the signs and the people and realize the Arabian influence. The only place I've ever been too that had this same type of feel was Rome, holding on to old world beliefs and culture while steadly expanding and building. I'm truly prepelexed by this city and am so excited to explore it. We took the first day for relaxing, thank goodness with our travel delays. The following day bright and early we were supposed to start our city tour and exploring. But in typical middle eastern fashion the driver is almost 2 hours late with no notification at all. And I get my first return to culture shock of being hung up on, welcome back! It was an interesting tour and I found out quite a bit about Dubai although it didn't go downtown. The next day was another lounging around and an evening Dhow Cruise around the water separating old Dubai and new Dubai, it seemed kinda touristy but something you do once. There was a cool dancer that spun for what seemed like an hour, I truly wondered how he didn't fall down. On our last full day in Dubai we got up early and headed to the Mall of the Emirates. They have a giant ski park IN the mall, it's amazing. I can't wait to go back to Dubai when we aren't so jet lagged and enjoy more of the city. We ended it with the best day of parental irresponsibility. We took maddy with us off roading on the sand dunes, got in a near head-on collision with another driver. Rode a camel, got henna tattoos and ate dinner with a man that spoke 3 words of English. Then because of our wreak ended up sharing the car ride back with the belly dancer and two guys from Spain. It was a true adventure and something not most 3 year olds get for their birthday! Then a short hour flight back to Bahrain and we morning drive across the causeway. Welcome home to Saudi!