Thoughts : Dubai

Hey!

As some of you may know, I am in Dubai. Well, currently visiting Dubai.

I am from the states and I came to Mombasa for my brother's wedding. It was wonderful and now I'm here with family and I went to the souq to get items for my mother. Most of the time when I go to the souq, I go to the parts where the locals would go not realizing that there is actually a souq - rightfully titled "The Grand Souq" -  where the tourists would go.

ANECDOTE        |1|

I am obviously, not from here, so I was excited to see this part. I am technically a tourist so why not explore the area. I don't live here and I'm only in Dubai for a couple of weeks at a time. I haven't left the house a lot since I've been here so off I went. I was taking pictures and than I notice that the Europeans (most of the tourists are from Europe) were looking and staring at me. Mind you, I didn't look like a native. A local woman is fairly easy to notice because they have a black abayah and a black scarf. I didn't. I had a blue dress on with a black hijab and a maroon cardigan, I didn't shower and I just woke up. However I had the hijab on so obviously I am not like "them" you know, I could only imagine their assumption and how it occurred: "Oh look a hijabi, I wonder how long she has been here.". However to any of the shop owners as soon as I open my mouth and my slightly Southern American tongue speaks, they know to raise the prices by 10 to 20 dirhams. (Which is why I came up with the tactic to speak to them in Arabic first than switch to English, that usually confuses them enough and they can't pinpoint where I'm from. THEN, if I speak Swahili to my relatives they are even MORE confused).

I just it find it so interesting to have tourists see me as a local when in all actuality I'm as much of a tourist as them. But to be honest I'm always in an in-between state.

I always see multiple facets of myself and my characteristics even if they are paradoxical for the two to even exist. Like when I was diagnosed with depression, it wasn't apparent because I am a fairly happy easy-going person. I am patient but have a short-temper whenever I am dealing with technology. 

Also Dubai is an unique country with 80% of the population being primarily immigrants. 80% of the total population is not even originally from Dubai. Is that not crazy at all (I find it a little crazy). So to my family who live here (they are technically immigrants) are they considered locals? Because even the definition of local depends on who you talk to. I ask my aunt the question "Who is a local?", she'll respond with the natives or the people whose family has lived here for generations and generations. The people of the U.A.E. 

Life is weird man with so many factors to take into account. Perspectives are weird and honestly I could keep rambling on and on. But mostly, I want to show you pictures. So, here you go. Thanks for the rant and short story. 

Sincerely,

Jante

instagram | _abatty_