Day 2-3

Only a couple hours until we land in Addis Ababa. It's been almost three days since we left Dallas and we still have another 24 hours until we arrive in Soddo and begin to work. In a sleepy haze we were able to explore Dubai for half a day. We enjoyed a nice lunch in the sun at the souk and then took a true coffee nap at a cafe on the Arabian gulf. Next we went to another mall (all of Dubai felt like a mall) and the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa. The open air viewing of the city below from the 124th floor was frightening and amazing. This was followed by a fountain show three times the size of the Bellagio fountain. Our evening culminated with a wonderful Arabic dinner under a very different set of stars surrounded by sweet hookah smoke and foreign tongues. I have to admit, the highlight of our day was our driver Mohammed. He was a friendly petite man with a slightly wrinkled shirt from sitting too long in one position during an afternoon sweat. His demeanor was earnest... and mostly confused. He didn't trust his new Mercedes' GPS and called every location we wished to visit to ask for (and sometimes confirm) his route. You could sense he was uncomfortable with the size and congestion of Dubai. I have to agree. The city was such a strange mix between what seemed like a very ancient world and a very flashy new world. It might be a fault in my perception of Arabic culture which I see as so old and rooted. Dubai seemed out of place - a teenager wearing a leather skirt and red lipstick at church. Women in full Burqas wearing sparkling stilettos that were only visible every fourth step. Stuffed dates and honey covered apricots in cases next to the Coach store. Even the floor of the viewing room at Burj Khalifa, a modern work of art and steel, was wooden and moaned under your feet as you edge towards the viewing windows. That being said, I can't wait to explore this part of the world again when I have more time to take it in. Now, on to Africa.