in Dubai. The big occasion was the matriarch of the family's 95th birthday. I thought it was a pretty big deal and everyone else thought it was even bigger. Woke up my first morning to twelve 6th graders and their teachers in the living room. For their good behavior they get a one hour break to come and wish the owner of the school's mother-in-law a happy 95th. We had mass for her that evening. I've never seen that kind of respect. People lined up in the church for her to bless them; children and grown men were kneeling and kissing one hand while she had the other on their heads. My faith is quite shaky right now, but if there is a person in this world that has a heavenly aura it's this great aunt. She's been acquainted with not one, but two saints: Saint Alphonza and Mother Teresa. They used to stay with her in India on their visits. Her rosary is her extra appendage and if she's not speaking to someone in the room, she's speaking to Our Father, His Son, or His Mother.
Some of you have heard me talk about life here, it hasn't changed. there is talk about the economic downturn here, but i'm not seeing it. there is excess everywhere. it feels kind of good to know that there is a place in the world i can come to indulge. this time i need an agenda. Since my last trip I have other friends and cousins here i'm having to juggle family obligations with wanting to soak in shiny dubai with my peers. everyone I'm running with here lives at a level in life I'd never personally know. I've been carted around in luxury sport cars, Range Rovers, Escalades... all these belonging to people my age or younger.
My first day I was given 1200 American dollars for my spending money... if you know me you know I still have 1200 in my purse. So this free trip to Dubai paid for my room, board, and flight to Egypt. There isn't even a chance to spend the money because I'm not allowed to pick up a tab. Dinners out are even more uncomfortable. My young friends/cousins make demands to the waiters "not this way, that way" "i want this, not that" "don't forget this" "what's taking so long?" the overworked and underpaid staff reply with "sorry madam, yes sir, it's coming madam" and probably some spit in our food as well. The other night we were at this extremely decadent place called "The Palace" and I found myself making demands. Don't worry I checked my ass before it got out of hand.
I have time to post this because everyone is out of the house now on some business. About an hour ago I was getting hungry and tried to sneak downstairs for a bite. Sneaking because if any of the help sees me, my "bite" becomes an ordeal of table settings, more dishes than I need, and me sitting at a large set table alone.
I'm leaving for Cairo in a couple of days and I don't want to. My uncle and aunt know I hate it and asked me to just scrap Cairo, go get my shit, come back and head home from here next week. Do you know how tempting that is? But that effing video is not done, it's actually not doing very well, and I want to pull the plug. I have to save face though, so I'm going to go back and handle my business.
tomorrow i am having my first facial... pretty much people just get paid to wash other people's faces well.
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