Sharjah (Maybe a Third World Country)

In November I was given notice by my school that my position was being cut. They gave a whole boatload of reasons that didn’t work for me. Delving a little deeper, as is my habit, I discovered that the school and the corporation that owns it are in financial trouble. I am still considering what to do about the shoulder injury that occurred there…….but that’s another story. 

The timing worked well since I was able to focus on PT for a month while looking for another job after winter break. On January 28^th I moved in with a friend in Al Ain. Thanks again, Jasmine and family! Less than two weeks after moving in, I interviewed for a job in Dubai and got it. For two weeks I commuted the 93 miles between Al Ain and Dubai. Then another friend let me stay with her in Sharjah while I looked for a flat (it’s not an apartment here). Her flat was only five miles from my school but it took an hour to drive it. Same amount of time in the car as the trip from Al Ain, but less gas. 

I looked at flats and pretty much had a choice between 1. rat feces and mangarillos 2. the Dubai Power Station and cancer or 3. a nice two bedroom flat less than a mile from my school. After spending an hour waiting for the manager to return from “break” I was told that I could not rent the flat because I am single. Welcome to Sharjah, the dry and pork-less Emirate. Wallah! No beer and no bacon. 

I finally found a flat that I liked in the same general area but almost lost it because the school, which does not employ many westerners, had not YET processed my work Visa more than a month after I started. Many tears flowed while showing up in the management office daily and I got the flat. I should have been an actress. 

To the right of the building on the right is Dubai. The rest is Sharjah. When I say I am on the border, I mean ON the border.

Love the living room window, though a balcony would be better.

Unfortunately then I entered the “moving furniture from two different locations while physically in a third” zone. Here the shout out goes to Rob and Nic for coordinating the movers. When I moved from Abu Dhabi to Al Ain in September, I moved into a fully furnished flat. I didn’t like the cooker (range) or the washer so I had mine moved from Abu Dhabi. I sold Lauren’s bedroom furniture along with my futons and baby fridge. My bedroom set and dining room set remained in Abu Dhabi at a friend’s flat and that is where I stayed most weekends. Thanks Melany and Nic! 

The bedroom is a LITTLE small for a king size bed and a wardrobe but.....

As a western female, I rate a primo assigned spot. That is Smurfette on the left. No dings for me!

BATHTUB. After the shower in Al Ain, I don't care that this isn't as huge as the one in Abu Dhabi.

I also bought a real sized refrigerator.

One truck arrived at 6:40pm and the other at 8:00pm. My bed was finally together at 10:00pm. The refrigerator was not scheduled to arrive until the next day. Now, I live on the border of Sharjah and Dubai, only because it is cheaper. My view from one side of the living room window is Dubai while the other side is Sharjah. The fridge was accidentally loaded onto a Dubai-bound truck and for some retarded reason; delivery trucks aren’t allowed to cross Emirate lines. WTF? The fridge got off loaded and then disappeared. That was Monday. I finally got my refrigerator on Wednesday night. 

It is now beginning to feel like I live here.   I have located the pork store right across the border but the beverage stores in Dubai will be a problem as they require a license to purchase……..which requires a letter from my landlord and my employer. Since liquor is not allowed in Sharjah, bringing it to my flat requires yet another license. Then again, the stores in Abu Dhabi don’t check for the license so………