Happy Birthday, UAE

Photos, top to bottom: Putting the finishing touches on a giant 40th birthday cake; Andy can barely contain his excitement in front of this giant UAE-shaped flag made out of fruit and vegetables.

The Emirates turned the big 4-0 yesterday, and it was QUITE the party. 

In all honesty, silly string in our building's elevators was about the closest we got to the action. But we know you may want to see more, so here are a few gems from around the web....

Cars and light shows and malls, oh my!

The official site for the UAE's 40th.

A video showcasing National Day products (many of which have been hanging from every crack, corner, and crevice at Emy's workplace since mid-November. That prize ribbon featuring Sheik Khalifa's face? She wore it everyday for two weeks.)

A solar powered wheelchair gets in on the action.

Past celebrations haven't skimped on the excitement.

Congratulations, UAE! May the next 40 be just as peace-filled and promising. cheers, andy&emy

PS - Someone else celebrated a birthday yesterday, too :)

So Far Timeline, Part Two: September

Well, here we are, already at the end of November, and we still haven't managed to recap our first few months together in the UAE! It's hard to go back when life insists on moving forward. (And also when you have an exhausting day job that saps your will to live....juuuuuusssst kidding! Sort of. Work/looking for work can be pretty draining. Unlimited Netflix streaming doesn't help, either.)

Anyway, our apologies. And now, we bring you the start of our "autumn" in the Emirates.

Flags that accompanied plants we gave as housewarming gifts to new neighbors and friends in our building. Everyone moved in at once!

Andy lands in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, September 8th, just as Ramadan is ending and a few days before Emy is scheduled to begin work. (Little bit of irony: The first day of school here was Sunday, September 11th.) His arrival marks not only the start of life together, but also ushers us into the realm of "Mamser" (combination of "Ma'am" and "Sir"), the all-in-one greeting preferred by employees in shops, restaurants, and public spaces across the city.

"Good evening, Mamser!"
"Can I help you, Mamser?"
And occasionally: "How are you? Ma'am...sir?"

It's like there's some universal customer relations training manual instructing workers to address all married couples appearing in public together as one entity. (With some notable exceptions, which mostly involve people addressing Andy on matters related to Emy, even if Emy is standing right there. But more on that another day.)

The first activity of our newfound Mamser/married life existence?

Why, renting a car, of course!

After weeks of putting her life in the hands of the city's notoriously crazy cab drivers, Emy is more than ready for a little more safety/autonomy as far as transport is concerned. Andy is less than sold, seeing as he'd be the one driving, and in a completely foreign place. But after seeing the beauty the rental car company provides, it's all worth it:

Oh, wait, no, that's a photo from the Dubai Auto Show.

THIS is our car:

It's OK if you're still jealous.

Really, though, this little guy has carried us on plenty of carpools, border runs, day trips, etc, without any major issues. We're super grateful to have a car, and Andy has adjusted to the chaotic driving just fine ;)

Highlights: Setting up house and starting school, activities both requiring plenty of flexibility and patience. As with any transition, there's an adjustment period, and in Abu Dhabi, it's seems to be a rather lengthy one. In fact, there are some things we to which we'll probably never become fully accustomed. 

All the same, the end of the month found us settling nicely into our first home together. (OK, so we still don't have a working stove and our entire building runs on generators. Nevertheless, with each passing week, our apartment becomes a little bit comfier and a little more "ours.")

Here's a small peek of our place so far...

(We promise our bed doesn't always look like that! Often enough though, and we're trying to give at least a semi-realistic picture here ;) )

Excursions: Nothing you haven't heard before. Andy visited Ikea for the first time, and Emy decided she never wants to go to Ikea again. Other than that, our adventures were of the "everyday existence" variety: finding restaurants, exploring our neighborhood, taking care of paperwork, buying groceries...It's doing all that in a new context that makes for an adventure. Meaning there's plenty to come....Stay tuned....

we interrupt our regularly scheduled timeline

To bring you the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca.

The kindergarten where Emy teaches staged their very own version, in conjunction with the real deal taking place this past week. It was a week-long event, from preparation to execution, and probably the most exciting school activity thus far.

Watching excitedly as the play area is transformed into Mount Arafat.

Learning about the Hajj through a video in the Computer Center.

Day of: Listening to a run down of instructions for the event.

Performing the tawaf (circling seven times in an anti-clockwise direction) on a replica of the Kaaba.

Waiting for the next rite. Boys and girls both wore traditional dress.

Praying together.

Getting water from the Zamzam well.

Handing out "stones" to the children (balled up tinfoil)...

...which are then used to "stone the devil" as Ibrahim is believed to have done.

It was a really beautiful day in many ways - if only we could show you the expressions of joy, excitement, and wonder on these little faces! (Andy's reaction to seeing the photos for the first time: "They're just so cute." It's true, they are.) Emy probably learned just as much as the children. After all, it was her first Hajj, too :)

Eid Mubarak, everyone! xo, andy&emy

So Far Timeline Part One: August

Wow, so, with a very few exceptions, it's been a while. Given our severe lack of posting, it would seem a recap is in order. Knowing where to start is another story. But if you'll bear with us, we'd like to offer a bit of compensation: Enter the Andy-Emy Abu Dhabi Timeline, a smattering of the highs and lows thus far. Here goes....

Emy flies to Abu Dhabi just as the holy month of Ramadan is starting. This means no eating or drinking in public during daylight hours. Given that the temperature can climb as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit at this time, hydration becomes a major concern. Countless bottles of water (referred to as "the stuff") are chugged in bathroom stalls around the city, away from Big Brother's watchful eye.

Story of Note: While waiting for a bus in town one day, Emy witnesses a Muslim woman keel over but is clueless as to what to do with respect to cultural appropriateness. Luckily two Indian women come to the rescue, offering the victim sips of water (which she does not want to take) and placing her in a cab headed to the nearest hospital. Back at the hotel, Emy looks up the Abu Dhabi equivalent of "911" - just in case.

Excursions: Malls (naturally) and Ikea within the first week (Ramadan = limited options). At first, Abu Dhabi seems a lot like American suburbia. Well, almost:

Later, a desert safari and Iftar buffet kick things up a notch, as does an adventure to Zayed Sports City and an Egyptian film evening at NYU Abu Dhabi.

Next up: 

FEATURING KEY EVENTS SUCH AS

The End of Ramadan u Andy’s Arrival u The First Day of School

See you soon, friends! xo, andy&emy

the malls of dubai

Amazing.

So that exists. 

Welcome to the UAE.

miss us?

Why not tide yourself over, over here?

Until soon, folks!

cheers, andy&emy

time to make it cozy

A few of the details that will soon help our place feel like home . . .

Favorite pillows (l. from Anthro, r. purchased in Germany) atop our infamous kilim; birds that served as the cake topper at our wedding, along with a wooden heart the pastor gave us.

(Sorry, I didn't have a picture of the Xbox ;) )

our apartment - before // good news!

On Monday, I (Emy) got the keys to our BRAND NEW apartment in Abu Dhabi. It's in a good location, near to both the city center and airport. And by "brand new," I don't mean "new to us" - the entire building was literally just completed, about a week ago. Which is kind of nice, actually, as it lends to the whole clean slate/new married life vibe we've got going.

So please, come on in (and I apologize in advance for the generally sketchy quality of these photos. Guess you should just come see it in person! Erm, if we know you, that is ;) ) . . .

Small entryway, which is a total bonus - many places just open right into a long hallway.

Our rug from Istanbul is begging for a home in this space!

As you enter, there's a guest bathroom to the left...

...the kitchen to the right...

...and the living room straight ahead. (Love those doors!)

Ahh, much better light! In the living room, facing the entrance.

Nice crown molding - it's the little things, right?

Hall leading to master bath and bedrooms.

Inside the master bath - no storage (yet!) but hey, there's nice tilework.

Bedroom One (soon-to-be guest room/office/den) includes a small balcony.

The master bedroom doesn't have a balcony, but it's slightly bigger.

View from our apartment, looking slightly to the right - that's the "leaning tower of Abu Dhabi" in the distance.

Our appliances will be delivered tomorrow (including one monster stove, can't wait make good use of that thing!), as well as the sofa. (I managed to find used the exact same three-seater I'd been eyeing at Ikea, but as part of a set. So now we have a couch, loveseat, and chair, all for under 500 bucks, including delivery. Yeah, it was a proud moment.)

In the past two days I've tracked down all of the above (stove, fridge, washer/dryer, dishwasher, and sofa set), as well as a table/desk, extra chairs, microwave, blender, coffee grinder, bed and mattress (plus complete bedding), dishes, cookware, cutlery, a clothing rack, a lamp, and a side table. Oh, and candles (let's face it, I care about the essentials). All to be delivered before I move in on Saturday morning. And the very best part? The one I was saving for last? Andy arrives in just two short weeks :)

Happy Wednesday, everyone! xo, emy

mini adventure

We were hoping to take a tour here...

...but their hours had changed due to Ramadan. (In fact, as we attempted to enter, there were dozens of men streaming in around us, answering an evening call to prayer.)

So, with the help of a considerate Egyptian man, we made our way across the highway to this place:

Zayed Sports City features Olympic-sized everything. We mostly strolled around the hotel portion like we owned the place, marvelling at its scale and maze-like qualities, before stumbling upon an art exhibition in one of the upstairs halls. (Pictures weren't allowed; it mostly looked like some sort of Emirati appreciation/student work. But, hey, it was something to see.)

The streets at Sports City are lined with date palms:

We eventually had to cross some major highways and a very large bridge in order to get back to our own hotel...

...but with the help of a kind cab driver, we made it there safely. Tired and ready for approximately 1.5 liters of water, to be chugged as fast as possible, but still - safe. And, overall, satisfied.

xo, emy

landed

This is just a quick update to say I (Emy) have landed in Abu Dhabi (been here a week now actually....), and in between overcoming jet lag and exploring the city, I've found it really difficult to motivate myself to do anything blog-related! But it's coming - oh yes, the thoughts and stories abound. Not to mention we've already been assigned our housing (WHAT?! Near the Abu Dhabi city center in a BRAND NEW building...two bedrooms...we get to choose all the furniture and appliances...pinch me) and are supposedly getting a tour of the place next week (we can't move in until our residency visas have been fully processed). Meanwhile, I'm stuck in five-star luxury at the Yas Hotel (I know, life is so hard) while Andy wraps things up in the States before heading over in a month (ok, so it IS hard missing him!).

Here's a peek of the view from my balcony at the Yas:

The marina, plus a curve in the famous F1 racetrack, which runs around (and under!) the hotel.

The internet connection at the hotel is reallllly slow, so I think I may spend some time sizing photos before I share anything else. You know, in between lounging at the pool and going to Ferrari World ;)

where in the world?

Emy's aunt recently passed along this addictive game, where you match the names of countries in the Middle East to their proper places on a map. Seeing as many of our future neighbors are also major newsmakers at the moment, we figured a little refresher couldn't hurt. Enjoy!

Cheers, andy&emy

oh, and we probably forgot to mention...

...that we have a (very small) wedding registry at wishpot.com. (Click the link to view it directly.)

busy hands

A little preview of one of the many projects underway...

Can't believe we're less than two weeks away. (Neither can my kitchen table, which has far too many in-progess items covering it to accept that we're this close. But nevermind, we'll get there. And I definitely think it'll be worth it.)

xo, emy

first photos

Plans (and projects!) are in full swing around here, and after spending last weekend in Minneapolis sorting out the final details, we're more excited than ever to celebrate with everyone in just a few short weeks.

While in the cities, we met with our photographer and had the opportunity to have a few engagement shots taken. We'll get our images next week; in the meantime, Melissa (our photographer) has some teasers up on her blog. (In one you can even see a section of the rug we bought on our recent trip to Istanbul -- more on that later. Maybe. With so much happening so quickly, there are no promises!)

Until very soon --

Cheers, andy&emy

did you hear?

We want you to help us build our post-ceremony playlist!

Do you have the perfect aural companion to the vodka gimlet? Let's turn it up for cocktail hour!

Is there an old sentimental favorite you'd like to relax to during dinner? A romantic mix that makes each bite taste better? Do share.

What about the tune that gets you out of your chair and grooving before you can say "white man's overbite," or the one you have to sing along to whenever it comes on? We want to know about it!

Leave the title and artist as a comment to this post, or just shoot us an email. Feel free to send multiple requests. This is a group effort, and we're hoping for an interesting and ecclectic mix, so don't hesitate to tell us exactly what you want to hear.

Cheers, andy&emy

welcome

...and please, come back soon!

Bit by bit, we are getting ourselves together and sorting out this brand new blog. The details of our wedding will be posted here as we have them, so check back regularly for updates.

In addition, we plan to maintain this space over the next two years as we tackle our move to the United Arab Emirates and new life together. There are sure to be some crazy stories and great pictures. We hope you'll join us on our journey, even if it's from a distance!

Cheers, andy&emy