New Beginnings

So, it's been a week since I left London for Abu Dhabi: time for a blog update.

7 days ago I boarded a British Airways plane with a big lump in my throat, yet huge excitement about the new adventure bubbling inside.  It might not have been the very best time/season to arrive in the sand-pit at the hottest time of year and during Ramadan but it's all part of the deal and the sooner I get used to the hot, sunny and above all very humid climate the better.
If you're following me on twitter (@missbunnyman) you will know some details of this first week already, though here's a little more insight for you.

The hotel where I'm staying for the first few weeks is almost opposite the office, well located by Al Wahda shopping mall and the room is nice with a sofa area and a super-comfortable bed, I have already asked housekeeping for the make of the mattress and where to get it, would like to have one of those for my new bed.  The only thing I'd complain about is the mosque right outside my window.  Can you imagine my shock-surprise the first night being woken up at 4:30am (!!!) by the broadcast of the Adhan/Azan (Islamic call for prayer)?  The Adhan is then again broadcast at 6am, 12:30pm, 4pm, 7pm for Iftar and once more at 8:30pm.  And this is not some lonely Muezzin standing on top of a minaret, no it's actually truly broadcast via speakers from the roof-top of the mosque.  It wakes me up every night/early morning.

Admittedly, on Sunday I completely crashed (not helped by the aforementioned sleep-interruption), only woke up lunchtime and wasn't up to much, the past few weeks had really taken their toll on me, still working on London matters, trying to tie everything up and preparing for hand-overs, and at the same time slotting into my new position as Accounting Manager for our Abu Dhabi office.  Having had to deal with AD being 3 hours ahead of and NY 5 hours behind London time didn't make it any easier.
However tired I was, I still managed to go for a lovely Iftar Dinner with Anissa who is the new Office Manager, she's come from the Cleary Paris office.  Iftar refers to the evening meal when Muslims break their fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan and the dinner-buffets are a big feast, usually for the whole family.  You will hear a lot more about Anissa in this blog, she and I will be working closely together, and so far I can only say she's wonderful and I'm thrilled we're in this together, it's a splendid career step for both of us.

Monday morning Anissa and I went out on our own account and looked at apartments, in the afternoon I met with the Estate Agent Anne and viewed a few more.  We (Anisa and I) both had set our eyes on the newly built high-rises on Al Reem Island, I viewed about 5 properties with Anne that afternoon and more or less decided on one apartment for which we then put my name down, just to be on the safe side and secure it for a day at least.  The reduced working hours during Ramadan are slowing everything own, most people/businesses operate until 2pm only.

Tuesday I went with the PRO (Public Relations Officer) to the medical examination (blood-test, X-ray...) that is needed for the residency visa and for the application for the Emirates ID.  Luckily the firm decided to use the PRO and pays for the VIP process, otherwise I would probably still be sitting there, waiting to be seen.  Still, with the reduced Ramadan working hours last week and now 3 days of Eid celebrations it'll only be next week that I have my visa issued and finally get my passport back.
In the afternoon I met with our bank business contact and went to the office.

Wednesday Anissa and I met with Anne (Estate Agent) again, this time mainly to view apartments for Anissa who - after having seen some in the new high-rises on Al Reem Island as well as older ones near the Corniche (Abu Dhabi's beach-front) - also decided to put an offer in for a 2-bed-room-flat on the 50th (!) floor of the Sky-Tower.  That building has luxurious in-house gym/spa/pool-facilities of which I am very envious.  But we've already made a deal that in exchange for baby-sitting her little son I will get access to her leisure facilities.  Also, there's a Waitrose in her building, another feature I will frequent.
We had another look at the apartment that had been secured for me and on this second viewing I knew I made the right choice and definitely want it as my new home.  My apartment is on the 17th floor of the Burooj Tower on Marina Square, it's a one-bedroom-flat, has a balcony, an open kitchen to the living room and there is a walk-though closet from bed- to bath-room very much in the style of Carrie Bradshaw's apartment in SATC.  I can't wait to move in there!

 

Again, the afternoon was spent in the office, and on a conference call with New York, the budget process has kicked off.

Thursday morning I met with Anne regarding the offer letter for the apartment.  Here in Abu Dhabi the rent is paid a year up-front.  And the house-prices are London-standard!  As a matter of fact I will pay double the amount of my London flat-share and am a little anxious as to what to expect in bills: aircondition, chilling-system (so that you actually get cold tap water), gas and electricity.

And, once more, the afternoon was spent in the office.  I know, it seems to become some kind of routine that I am doing some work here as well  ;-)
In the evening (after 7, since Anissa is fasting during Ramadan) we went for dinner and a girly manicure pampering session to catch up as Anissa flew back to Paris Thursday night, where she'll be for a week to wrap up any loose ends from her job there and organise her husband and son's move to Abu Dhabi.

I got up fairly early Friday morning (btw the working week in the UAE runs from Sunday to Thursday) and went to IKEA.  I have never before been to an IKEA with only approximately 30 other customers in the whole store.  It was amazing!  Of course the bed I want is not in stock, and I can't decide between 2 sofa-beds but I wasn't there to buy anyway, only to look and decide.

Afterwards I went to Carrefour in Marina Mall and then also to LuLu Hypermarket in Al Wahda Mall to look at kitchen appliances, I will need a cooker, a fridge and a washing machine, apartments here are empty just as they are in Germany (not furnished like in the UK).  In the evening my head was spinning with information and I so wish I had a bigger budget.  Nonetheless, after some internet research I at least decided on a TV (with a little decision-making-help from my lovely friend David).  He and I video-chatted for a while in a Google Hangout, a great alternative to Skype!  It was so good to see David, I miss him.

So, this morning (Saturday) I traipsed over to LuLu early to beat the crowds and I purchased the chosen TV, to be delivered in September when I have the keys to my new flat.  Whoop whoop!  Abu Dhabi Doo!  Then I went to the office for the day, had a quick evening session in the hotel's tiny gym and updated my blog.  There you go, my past week in a nutshell.

There are so many more details I could have talked about, so many impressions and little incidents in this first week, but I am not writing a book, only trying to include you on my New Adventure.

See you soon!  Eid Mubarak!