Insha'Allah

Today I went to an American Women's Association of Dubai event at the Wafi Mall.  Wafi, which is an Egyptian themed mall, is shaped like a giant pyramid and is about 20 years old - which is pretty ancient in Dubai standards.  Ironic that it's a pyramid, no?

A really pretty, ornate glass ceiling at the Wafi Mall.  It's hard to tell, but it's the point to the pyramid

Three stores in the mall hosted our group for little shopping hours with discounts.  I got a really cute kimono top and an awesome bracelet at a cute boutique called Oasis.  Success!  One of the stores also hosted us for coffee at cafe in the mall.  While having coffee I learned about the phrase Insha'Allah, which basically translates into "God willing" or "If it is God's will."  From what I understand, people don't really like saying "no" here so instead they use this phrase.  Basically, it'll happen if it happens.  No promises because you never know what God wills.  Oh boy.  For those of you who know me well, this is going to be a really tough thing for me to deal with.  I am not a go-with-the-flow person and I really like to know definitely "yes" or "no."  On the bright side, maybe I'll emerge from Dubai a much more relaxed, easy going person?  Ryan laughed really hard when I mentioned this thought to him.


Unfortunately, I think I may be getting sick.  My throat has been killing me the last few days and it's getting worse.  I can barely swallow.  I stopped by the pharmacy on my way home from the mall to see what I could pick up and they recommended these things.  

They are seriously the most disgusting things I've ever tasted.   But they have helped numb my throat a bit, so I guess that's good.  Another thing I learned today about the UAE is that you can buy antibiotics over the counter without a prescription.  I thought about buying some Amoxicillin but chickened out.  Anyone know if that's a super bad idea or if I should just be a grown up and go to the Emirates Airline clinic?  For someone who worked at a hospital for six years, I'm sure bad at going when I should.
Next week I'm headed to Abu Dhabi with the AWA.  I'll try and remember to take lots of photos and blog about that trip. 

In the meantime, I think Ryan and I will be doing a lot more of this: