Second Class Citizen

As a woman who has always believed that I can do anything I want despite the fact that I have a vagina, there are a few things in Dubai that really piss me off.

Since I am not working yet, my husband is my visa sponsor. My residence visa is a "housewife visa." I have nothing against housewives, but I am definitely not meant to be one. Last time I checked my law degree did not disintegrate when I crossed the border. I'd rather eat glass than start going to ladies luncheons and group manicures.

To make matters worse, I need my husband's permission to do many things. I had to take a letter of no objection from him to get my driver's license. It was very difficult for me to non-nonchalantly hand over this letter with the rest of my documents when I wanted to scream in everybody's face, but I did it. I also need his permission to install a telephone line and other such services and to work. I hope I can continue to hold my tongue until I accomplish these things. Protesting is illegal here and it isn't in the best interest of my family to get deported. At least, not yet.

Hotter than Hell

It is so hot here that there needs to be another word besides hot to describe it. Here is a good description that help you imagine what it feels like:

Not Florida in July hot. Hot as if you were locked in a car in Florida in July with sufficient humidity to make it feel as though you are drowning. Hot as in 120 degrees with nearly 100% humidity. Do not look to the wind for relief. This is the equivalent of pointing a hairdryer on full blast directly at your face. Pour fine moon dust-like sand over your head as you do this and you get the picture.

(From The Top 20 Reasons Not to Move to Dubai)

What fascinates me the most is the women (and their make-up) who seem to be heat-resistant. They appear to have no sweat glands. Their liquid eyeliner stay perfectly applied when the minute I walk out of the house I have a river of sweat pouring from my forehead. I wore mascara once and looked like Amy Winehouse on a crack bender after about five minutes. Is there some secret cosmetics store I don't know about?

What's Dubai like?

If you want to learn more about what Dubai is like before I start telling you what I think, check out this article from National Geographic. It includes a really nice photo gallery too.

To find out more about the seedy underbelly of Dubai, take a look at Secret Dubai Diary and Mafiwasta.com.

Where am I?

In a National Geographic poll, only 24 percent of Americans were able to locate Saudi Arabia on a map, only 17 percent were able to locate Afghanistan, and just 13 percent could locate Iraq or Iran.

For my geographically challenged compatriots, I have included this map to help you figure out where I live. Dubai is part of the United Arab Emirates, which is the country helpfully highlighted in green.

Now that you have seen my neighborhood you are probably have visions of Al Qaeda and suicide bombers dancing in your heads. Not in Dubai! Keep reading to find out more.