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Trip Start Sep 16, 2006

Trip End Mar 13, 2007

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Flag of Yemen Sana'a, Yemen
Sunday, November 26, 2006

When I walked towards the exit of the baggage claim area, exhausted from having not slept the night before (the night was spent digging my friend's car out of the sand) and with a slight tummy ache from the free Etisalat (THE phone company in Dubai..was a monopoly until this year when the government allowed a competitor to enter into the market) chocolate I devoured in the waiting room, I was greeted by Manel and Alex, both with large grins on their faces. They were holding between them a teddy bear with a heart stitched with the words "I love you." I always used to wonder what Hallmark did with all the crap they didn't manage to sell for Valentines Day. In my head, I want to believe that they give these items to USAID and UNICEF to include along with poptarts in care packages to be dropped in various impoverished locations around the world. Yemen included.

The teddy bear served multiple purposes. First of all, it made me laugh. This was not the reason for the purchase, however, but it was a nice added bonus. Secondly, and most importantly, the bear served as a way to calm me prior to telling me that we are now living in a different apartment from the one we were living in when I left. Yep. Third apartment in less than a month. I think I should get not only "mad props" for this feat but also documentation because this must be some kind of world record. Thirdly, the bear was a way for them to kindly say "we got you something, now give us our presents from Dubai."

Although I hope to never again in my life move around so much as I did in one month, on a positive note we have managed to move into substantially nicer places each time. Having this said, as much as I would like to have a sauna, hot tub and butler, I hope/pray/perform a ritual dance that there will not be a fourth apartment.

Back to Dubai in 4 days for work...leaving the 7th to fly to Istanbul for all of 12 hours, then to London for 24 hours, final stop in nyc on the 9th. I need to take a nap just thinking about it.