Welcome to Arabia circa 2200

All roads may lead to Rome, but as far as I can tell the air traffic goes through Dubai. I am getting the impression that every time the wind blows here the sand subsides to uncover another building, where invariably people are selling stuff. The airport is full of gold and silver artifacts, many of which I can't help but imagine being traded on this site hundreds of years ago. From my limited vantage point, Dubai has successfully blended Middle East traditions with the marketing and frivolity (including indoor skiing!) so often associated with the West. They have taken all the things that Americans love to do - like shopping, and art and horse races - but have done it better, because they can afford to.

So far my flights have been amusing, although not very refreshing. I shared one red eye flight with a five year-old named Ryan, who apparently had trouble sleeping on the plane and thought I should too. Whenever I dozed off he would poke me in the arm, sneeze on me, and in one act of desperation he threw a bottle of water at me. Once he was pretty sure I was awake and only feigning sleep he would follow-up with "Rob - hey Rob! What would happen to the wheels on the plane if we fell out of the sky? Would they blow-up? Have you ever been to Greenland?" I watched bitterly as his parents slept across the aisle, but was glad to give them a reprieve.

I am in the Dubai airport now, and leave for Johannesburg soon. I can't wait to sleep in a bed tonight, take a shower, and get some much-needed sleep. I am now seeing the real price of traveling from Oregon to Africa with tickets purchased on a shoe-string - it takes 2.5 days to get where you are going.

Cue theme song

I finally figured out how to pack my life into two bags. One by one, I eliminated the products that had become a part of my routine: Origins and Bumble & Bumble in the shower, the free face stuff I get from Mark, the Aveda lotion I use before going to bed (I reassured it that I will be back in two years!). And the Republics (Rock and Banana) were tucked in my dresser drawers with care.

Soon I will be waking to hear totally different birds chirping outside my window. I can't wait to hear what they sound like.

Love to you all!

The vacation's over

My residence permit was approved! My passport will be couriered back to me tomorrow, and I should receive it next Monday the 18th.

My flight will depart Portland on Tuesday, June 26 at 11:00p. The first stop will be in South Africa, where I will attend a conservation conference for a week; then off to Tanzania, where the adventure will begin at last.