Archive for June, 2010

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Proper Use of the Fork

June 29, 2010

Posted by Kanga.

I have a vague childhood memory of someone calling Americans uncouth because of the way we use utensils. We tend to use one hand and a fork, primarily. Spoons are used only for liquids and knives only for spreading butter or cutting meat. In this person’s perception, the “continental style” of using a knife and fork simultaneously was much more civilized.

Now that I’ve had a chance to watch this continental style in action, I am amazed by the illogic of it. People hold their fork upside down and use the knife to push food onto the back of the fork. They put a great deal of effort into this process. The fork is a multitasking tool. It can spear food, scoop food, cut food and rake food. Yet, I don’t see any of these uses, only the pressing of food onto the back of it, the most inefficient use conceivable. There is more sense in using one’s fingers or chopsticks.

So much for the superiority of the continental style.

Posted in culture shock | Leave a Comment »

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Kisses

June 28, 2010

Posted by Kanga.

For the most part, I endeavor to be culturally aware and adjustable. There is, however, one thing that I find uncomfortable – cheek kissing. You know, the kiss on the cheek, anywhere from one to three, given as a greeting or good bye.

In America, this is rarely seen or done. It’s mostly considered something that superficial people in certain social circles do. Here, it is fairly common place and considered appropriate.

My first encounter was particularly odd. A man I was meeting for the first time moved right in and made kissing sounds near my ear. I was caught completely off guard and laughed in his ear. That was the end of that. Actually, I think he’s Canadian, so he should have known better. Americans probably have the largest personal space radius of any culture. It is bad enough for someone I know to move in that close, but for a complete stranger. Yikes!

It is supposed to be an expression of affection, so it is rather awkward to say “please don’t do that.” There are also forceful personalities who take that sort of request as a challenge which changes it from affection to “getting one’s way.” Sometimes, one can get off the hook because you are across a table or not able to get close enough and the kisses are “air kisses” blown from a distance.

So, give me a wave or a firm handshake. Thanks!

Posted in culture shock | 2 Comments »

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Hoses

June 27, 2010

Posted by Kanga.

When looking for a hose that we could use to wash off our balcony, we were amazed to find that it is nearly impossible to find a hose with connectors on the end. Hoses just have cut ends. You can buy a variety of “ends” to put on these hoses, but exactly how is the average shopper going to attach these to the hose in a water tight fashion?

Then, one day, came the revelation:

van advertising a hose crimping service

Posted in oddities, products/ads | Leave a Comment »

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Technology at Its Best

June 26, 2010

Posted by Kanga.

So, we used to have a little cable port for our internet access. It was about 4 inches square. We’ve been “upgraded” to optical fiber line instead and this is what it looks like. (Thanks to Bert for providing a size comparison.)

indescribable mess

So, is it true that size matters?

Posted in oddities | 1 Comment »

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Complicated Plant

June 25, 2010

Posted by Kanga.
Previously, I had seen a very large version of this plant that sent up a giant stalk and then put out tiny and rather silly looking flowers. So, when this one appeared in front of the library, it gave me a change to document it’s reproductive process.
plant that has a 7 foot flower stalk
First, it sends up this tall stalk and clumps of buds.

close up of the flower buds

flowers in bloom

The blooms are mostly just pestles and stamens and it blooms up the stalk.

seed pods

Then come the seed pods, which fall to the ground.

seed pods at base of plant

You might think, as I did, that this is the end, but NO. There’s more.

Bud clusters putting out leaves

There is a secondary bloom stage in which leaves and blooms come out of the same clusters that produced the first blooms.

close up of secondary bloom

Posted in flowers, plants | 1 Comment »

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Signs from the ‘Hood

June 24, 2010

Posted by Kanga.
Fresh Fish Restaurant sign

A creatively named restaurant. Hmm… wonder what they serve here.

Little Princess Cafe and Cafeteria sign

Now you know what the royalty is up to.

Spur Steak restaurant advertisement

Here’s an image I never expected to see in the Middle East. (This is actually in a mall not in the neighborhood.)

Spur Steak restaurant advertisement

“Spur People – People with a Taste for Life”

Sign showing a chicken holding a drumstick

Chicken Tikke so good even a chicken will eat it!

Sign with the word Chinese misspelled

Chinees Food, speaks for itself.

Tuna advertisement on a taxi

We first saw Rio More tuna in a commercial during the previews at a movie theatre. Then I saw it plastered all over this taxi. The image of tuna in olive oil (greenish goo) is not very appetizing.

Posted in chicken, restaurant, signs, taxis | 1 Comment »

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Summer

June 19, 2010

Posted by Kanga.

Well, my summer plans were looking something like this: read a lot, sew a lot, laugh at the cats antics a lot, watch a lot of Bollywood movies and go outside as little as possible. I was also going to do a lot of blogging – book reviews, movie reviews, cat antics and get caught up on the wacky toys videos. I was also going to get brave and explore some social issues that have been in the press lately.

However, on the 30th of June, I turn in my work laptop computer which is in great need of some maintenance work, and will not have it again until I return to work at the end of August. I expected to have a MacBook Pro before this, but that has not worked out. So, blogging is not to be. I will still be reading, sewing, laughing, etc., but any writing I do will be in a paper journal which only I will be likely to ever read. I will still be on Twitter, Facebook and email, because my iPod Touch is very useful for those things, but typing more than a few words is not practical, and loading pictures, forget about it.

We are not travelling anywhere exotic this summer, so maybe no blogging is not such a big deal. We are each travelling to the States at different times and to different destinations. This tag team travelling allows for the cats to be cared for without having to enlist a cat sitter and should be far less exhausting than last years 7 week odyssey.

I will endeavor to get caught up on some not yet posted pictures before June 30th. I’m sad that I won’t be able to take advantage of my time off to do more in depth writing.

Posted in books, Movies, USA | Leave a Comment »

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Classical Movies

June 17, 2010

Posted by Kanga.

While in a local store looking for more Bollywood movie DVDs we happened upon this section.

section of DVDs labeled "Classical Movies"

Among the Classical Movies are three Streisand movies – On a Clear Day, The Main Event, and What’s Up Doc.

On a Clear Day dvd case

And, of course, Shaft. (Which is selling for 43 AED – just under $12.00)

Shaft dvd case

I never cease to be amazed at what you can get here. We did not stock up on Barbra Streisand/Ryan O’Neal movies. DaddyBird did, however, find a little gem – “Ten Inch Hero” – a fun little ensemble piece with a young Jensen Ackles (currently Dean in Supernatural).

A couple of scenes were obviously censored, which was funny and fine with me. I got the jist without whatever it was they cut out. It is actually rare for DVDs to be censored this way, because it has to be done before the discs are created. VHS tape can be cut or erased after the fact.

We also purchased 10 Things I Hate About You, a fun romantic comedy that we saw on one of our plane flights. The rest of the purchase was Bollywood movies, with any luck I will be reviewing for you this summer. I’m learning to appreciate the value of having song and dance in every movie. Kinda miss it when I watch American films.

Posted in Movies, Shopping | 2 Comments »

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Oliver’s New Bad Habit

June 11, 2010

Posted by Kanga.

First, let me assert that I did not allow this to happen. I just grabbed the camera and took the pictures.

cat in the refridgerator

He isn’t doing this just because it’s cool. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.) He is in search of curry leaves which are usually kept in that drawer. And, if he can’t get to curry leaves, maybe the spinach in the container above would do.

cat in the refridgerator

I’ve had cats with unusual food preferences before. Oliver thinks cat food is okay. Cooked meat, not so interesting. Raw chicken seems to be high on his list, however, and fish, which he can’t have for medical reasons. But, the biggies are bread and green leafy vegetables. I discovered this when I gave him a broccoli leaf thinking he would play with it and he gobbled it down. If we give him a slice of bread he tosses it around like it’s a mouse. He chews on it, too, and it is soon spread all over the floor. Messiest toy, but entertaining to watch. It is even better if he can steal something (remnants of being a street cat), so I discovered chili peppers all over the floor recently.

small red chili peppers scattered on the floor

He keeps us on our toes and entertained.

Posted in cats | 2 Comments »

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Two unrelated signs

June 9, 2010

Posted by Kanga.
sign on a truck "desert turf care"

The name of this company caught my eye. I’m not certain if it is amusing or actually a very good choice. Turf definitely needs some tender loving care here. It does not exist without it.

sports car in mall display window

The warning sign at the bottom of this picture says “Caution – Glass Window is transparent – Please watch out – followed by nine exclamation points. This is a display window in a mall. I don’t know if they have actually had people walking (or running) into the wall or if they are being funny because, obviously, people would be rushing to worship this sports car.

Posted in signs | 1 Comment »

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