The story so far...
Through fate or fortune, i was lucky enough to take a chance work trip to the UAE in Novmeber of 2006, to investigate an oppurtutinity of providing some consultative management to a locally based company. I spent only a week, but during this time made every effort to learn as much about and from the poeple i was dealing with and the country that is the Unitred Arab Emirates.
I got to see and spend time in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Whilst there are enormous opportunities within the UAE, it is clear that you have to have a local partner, as contacts are essential.
I'm not a city person per-say, and for this reason, whilst i found the engineering feats of Dubai to be fasinating and almost unbelievable (try damming the Gulf, reclaiming billions of tonnes of sand and building islands bigger than some countries, as starter), i was not actually attracted to this well known city. A single person or dink would probably thrive here though. Abu Dhabi was a little slower paced, and seemed to have a hint more culture about the place. Al Ain, the garden city of the emirates, was on the other hand extremely pretty, with a maximum building code ( i believe) of 4 story limits. This low rise, spread out oasis city was much more appealling to me and it oozed culture and fasiniation.
Anyway, it turned out that the company i was there to work with required assitance with a couple of contracts in Al Ain, and wanted someone on the ground, fulltime for 3 months asap.
On my return to Oz and the family we evaluated where we were and the opputtuinity being offered. The Pros outweighed the Cons and by the beginning of December FS and I had agreed that i would make the shift for a 3 month period to assess exactly what we were able to offer the UAE based firm, the likelyhood of long term work and partnering in the region, and would we comfortably up-root the family and make the move. (we were very excited about the idea of this oppruttunity and were saying YES, to all of the above questions, but still had to do the 3 month gig up front. This meant only I was to head to the UAE for the first 3 months and hope to bring the whole family (wife and 4 kids) over ASAP. I'm heading off as at beginning of January 2007.
I quickly learnt that nothing happens quickly in the UAE and so much is based upon relationships and someone's word. By comparison in Australia, and whilst realtionships are important, our meeting s and discussios are mcuh quicker and to the point than those with the Arab culture. In Australia, contracts and agreeements are more common place also, or so it appears.
This has been reinforced to me, trying to have some sort of agreements in place for my secondment package, airfares, accomodation etc being sorted in such a small timeframe and with Xmas and New Year thrown-in between.
Anyway, it's pretty much all arranged now, and i head off for my 3 month stint on January 9th 2007. I am leaving behind my wife (FS) and four young boys. this is without doubt going to be the hardest part of the journey, one that quite frankly is going to terst us all.
1 comment:
Well mate another week has past. Took about 7 other guys to Terry Hills last Friday (Aust. Day) and we rode solidly for 2.5 hours. It was hot and the guys loved it. We all missed you mate and wished you were here enjoying with us. Chest was the only one to fall over this time due to Raz getting in his way, ah what are friends for!
Raz is back playing hockey on Saturdays and training twice per week. Chest rides his wind trainer during week and refuses to run due to knee uncertiny. All of us have now signed up to ride the 50km race in early May and we will be staying in a hotel there the night before, so if you want to come whilst you are here, would love to have a laugh with you.
I have still been running with Ian and now running about 4-5 days per week and starting to get much fitter. All runs whilst still hard somehow seem a lot more achievable now. We have been to the beach heaps this week as the weather has been really hot. There was a great swell here yesterday and whilst at the beach watched a number of really good surfers get some big long waves. Mark next door was out there and he surfs really well and got some good left hand rides.
We spent the afternoon with a few of the group with all the kids at the local pool this afternoon. It was hot and the kids were jumping into the pool on their boogie boards with each wave arrival. They loved it. Everybody was happy and it all goes well for our trip up north in a few months.
I understand you have already heard about the whipper snipper accident. Good laceration to the shin and was lucky not to more severe damage. Anyway all that have seen me have had a laugh so at least they have got something out of it! Mate the laundry is finished and it is working well. I think it is a good use of the space we had. Good to finish another project. The baby's room is almost finished with a number of purchases. Cot's, dressing tables and wardrobes have been built. Not much more to do at all.
Worked over the Australia Day long weekend and it was very very busy with the usual problems. Nice to have a few days off and with the kids back to school tomorrow it will be very quiet again during the days. Will miss then heaps when they go back, as they have really enjoyed the holidays.
Mate thats about it. Have just seen the highlights to Tiger winning again at the Buick Open. 7 Straight. How good is the guy! Will be good to see you champ and here about all your travels and experiences. We all think about you each day and I miss ya!
Bon voyage SF
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