Driving

Today was a big day.  I woke up, got ready and... went out by myself.  


I've been pretty terrified to drive here for a few reasons.  One being that the other drivers are kind of crazy.  Also, the roads here are extremely confusing - and there are no addresses, just references to main roads, buildings, etc.  Finally, I'm just not a very good driver.  I went five years in Chicago with almost never driving.  But I do have to leave the house occasionally when Ryan is away for work so I guess I'd better get a grip and learn how to get around.

Our car has satellite navigation, which will be super helpful.  The city is growing so fast, though, that the program can't keep up with it.  Sometimes it appears that we're driving through the dessert when we are on a road in town.  I find that pretty amusing.

But I really shouldn't complain too much since driving really is a privilege here.  A lot of other expats have to take something like 40+ driving lessons and a really difficult driver's test, where Ryan and I merely had to show our Visas and  US driver's license.  Well, and I needed a permission letter from Ryan, of course.

Thanks for letting me drive, Ryan!

Yeah, the permission letter was kind of a shock and a weird thing to have to do, but I have to remind myself that I am not in the US.  I am a guest in another country and have to abide by, and respect, their culture, customs, and laws.  And I'm lucky to have such a nice husband who will let me drive (ha-ha!)

In case any of you were wondering, I went to the Mall of the Emirates.  It is seriously HUGE.  And has some of my favorite stores - H&M, Gap, Sephora, Zara, Zara Home, Marc by Marc Jacobs, TopShop (coming soon), etc.  And it has a giant Carrefour (a kind of Kmart type place with groceries and home goods) and a really nice movie theater.  The shopping here is fabulous - worth every second of my scary drive.