Dubai is very westernized, and we feel completely safe and free here. The rule of thumb is to cover your shoulders and your knees and with nothing too revealing or see-through while out in public. Malls have introduced a modesty code for shoppers, but you will still see some too revealing outfits! It is respectful of the local culture to make an effort to cover up when out in public. When out for the evening anything goes although you may want to have a wrap to cover up en route, and beach wear must only be worn on a beach or around a pool.
Driving here can be quite intimidating, and it gives a whole new meaning to defensive driving! You have to keep in mind that you are sharing the roads with people from many countries with different standards. It is completely normal for someone driving in the fast lane to flash their brights and honk their horn if they do not feel you are driving fast enough. And keep in mind the speed limit is at least 75 mph. If drivers are coming to a quick and sudden stop, they turn on their hazards to let you know they are slowing down. I even had a guy mimick a flashing sign with his hand, just in case his flashing hazard lights and him slamming on the breaks was not enough for me! Ha! The law requires people sitting in the front seat to wear seatbelts, but this is rarely enforced. Nor are children or babies required to sit in a car seat. Often times the baby sits in someone's lap and the toddlers are free to roam throughout the car. It's not uncommon to see kids hanging out of the sunroof of their parents luxury SUV or sedan...Only In Dubai!
Another tidbit that just blows my mind, is some people here cover their car seats with plastic, as in the plastic your grandma would use to cover her nice couch! I have heard of people taking their brand new Range Rover, Mercedes, Lexus, etc to a particular place for the special plastic wrap! Some say it's so you will know they are driving a new car! Jeez...Only In Dubai!
Mason likes to play the game, "let's see how many Ferraris we can spot today!" He has a classmate that gets dropped off every day in a red one, and we usually see several more on our drives to and from school! This is probably more common in the larger cities back home, but I can guarantee you we don't get to play this game back in Fairfield, TX!! We are used to seeing suburbans, pick-up trucks, dually trucks and tractors!
It is not uncommon for kids at Mason's school to get driven to school by their driver and escorted in by their nanny. Some large families even have more than one nanny, a driver, house maid, cook and yard boy!...Only In Dubai!
There is almost every fast food chain here such as McDonalds, Burger King, Subway, KFC, Baja Fresh; however, all of these restaurants deliver around the clock!
The grocery stores have come a long way over the last couple of years, and it's becoming a lot easier to find American made products. But we often joke, that if you find something you must have that you need to buy as many as possible, because there is a very good chance it will not be there tomorrow or ever again!
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