Abu Dhabi Day 4 of 7: Almost Half Way

"Sabah il-khayr, kayf haalak" (good morning, how are you?).Weather today 27°C, hot and sunny. Music Adele, Bowie and Eels. New photos on FB. Tip: Make your blog more interesting with pictures. (great idea but I can't load any out here).

Up at 6.45 and blog for too long which makes me late for breakfast, same as yesterday but this time warmer. I'm also late when I arrive at the training venue at 8.10, annoying as I'm almost always early. However, it's not a problem as only 2 of the 7 delegates are present. This is not unusual here apparently. 

I ask permission, which is granted, and take a picture of the two, one woman, Hamda and one man, Nawaf. Later when I have a full class, I again ask permission but Mariam refuses, so no photos of them all then. I've taken photos of buildings, the pool and one of a cat but have yet to figure out how to take them of the locals without giving offence.

We break for breakfast at 10.00; they eat while I blog. Several return late, the last one 10 minutes later than agreed. Most use their mobiles at every break and Reema has been out three times to answer her mobile. She says she has a problem with her car; rubble from a construction site fell onto the roof and she was in the car at the time!. They are all so relaxed about time keeping here that it will be a wonder if we manage to cover all of the material in the course.

During prayer break at 12.30 I mark the quiz they did at the start of the course. I'm not a fan of these. Top mark is 12 1/2 out of 30 but Reem, who is the best student, only gets 8 1/2. So what does that tell me?

Lunch is just me, well one of the women and me. I'll lunch alone because men and women never sit together here for such a meal. At a wedding for instance, after the ceremony, the men go to one room and the women to another. Might have advantages but it will never catch on back at home. Have prawns again this time with hammour, a local fish in a creamy sauce. Still avoid the sweet trolley. 

On the way back to the hotel I secretly take pictures in the shopping mall. Probably be thrown in jail if I get caught. Skype wife and then son and now off for a swim.