My days are numbered

The days in the UAE are numbered

After a few days in Berlin, the return to Abu Dhabi is a allegory for both countries: Due to some bureaucratic technicalities in my booking, both Lufthansa as well as the travel agent have to reflect and mull over and discuss my ticket, resulting in debates without action. I almost expect to be grounded for the day when I finally do hold my boarding pass in my hands. It’s all about process, not about results. Operation gelungen, Patient tot.
Then, on the plane to Abu Dhabi, I find an Muslim in jeans and T-shirt in my seat, arguing that he would hope to find me another place since his wife in black hijab may not sit next to an unrelated (and obvioulsy non-muslim) man. Could I muster the wit as well as the language skills, I would have liked to share some more un-muslim information about me with him – in Hebrew. (Especially about him sitting in first while his wife had to do in the back of the bus.)

I only allow myself to feel like this since I know that my days in the UAE are numbered: my employer will not continue his local endeavour, mostly due to domestic reasons back at headquarters, but also because the business plan has proven too ambitious (as many including myself had pointed out before). So, after closing shop and handing over clients to other agencies, I will return to Germany. The company has asked me to stay on board, but frankly the positions offered are not worth staying for. But I appreciate the gesture.
Independently of those latest developments, two job opportunities have presented themselves. Both are in Germany. And both of them I would have probably pursued regardless of the current developments. So until I have to leave Arabia and before I close shop and return to a new job in Germany, I’ll try to make use of the weekends and travel in the region: Beirut is supposed to be hot these days…

one of the many, many accidents in the UAE

right below my apartment. please observe the general direction of traffic as opposed to the direction of the passenger car…

also ich würde mich momentan ja wahnsinnig über ein wenig deutsche prozess- und briefingtreue freuen... diese araber werden nur noch von den anderen expats hier übertroffen, die noch erratischer durch die gegend springen. jetzt mal schnell ein schnellfeuergewehr zur hand und nachher ganz unschuldig back to my loving place...

here it comes: the inevitable gonu entry

to say it up front: the only effect of the cyclone here in abu dhabi has been a little more wind and a slightly cooling to below 40C for a day or two. so actually quite pleasant. (now it's back up to the usual 44C.) but as you might know, we're sharing an office with a consultancy. and they in return have an office in oman. and that's what it looked like over there…

well, i got to tell you

working like a sizilianische hafennutte is really tough. but it pays off: we just won our second client and are creating a tiny, tiny exhibition for them. and if we behave nicely we might even get a bigger piece of the cake later on: if i wouldn't be at the desk 24/7 i might even contemplate having a glass of champagne.

But, my dear digital friends, the real reason to celebrate is: my brother passed the bar exam! Please join me toasting to a great guy, that now is allowed to put a Esq. next to his name! I'm looking forward to addressing a real bottle of champagne next time we see each other, bro! (And maybe you might find the time to explain what Esq. actually stands for – I could google it, but I'drather hear it from you.)

may i kotz out myself for a little, please?

after having been aufgefordert by the vorstand to "to put all personal investments in sales activities" (and wondering what my personal dividend might be if i do so), i have schrubbed away in night shift after night shift for another exhibition design. (the client already has another one on his desk plus a proposal for a VVIP brochure (and that's no vertipping, they really talking very, VERY important person catalogue, also sowas mit goldkante) and isn't doing anything with them.)
to get the adrenaline going i was presented with a new deadline first yesterday noon (please deliver by thursday midday) and then this morning with the message that they'd need it even an hour before that. UND DANN HAT DIESES ARSCHGESICHT GEANTWORTET, DASS ER NUR 150.000 DHIRAMS FREIGEBEN WOLLE, DAVON SIND ABER SCHON ÜBER 80.000 FÜR IRGENDEINEN TEUREN DRECK ALLOKIERT. ZUR INFO: 70T€ SIND SO CA 14T€! Und zwar inklusive Produktion! Ja, Herrschaften, dafür steht doch so eine Luxusdesignbutze wie ich sie hier präsentiere erst gar nicht auf!
Anyhow. Da habe ich erstmal das Telefon ausgestellt. Sonst hätte ich bei einem eventuellen Kundenanruf nicht lächeln können. Und wir wissen ja: immer lächeln am Fernsprecher. Das hört man am anderen Ende.
So, fertig mit Kotz.

bear with me

the current silence is due to the fact of a sh*tload of work at the moment - which is a good indicator for the wüstenprinz staying a wüstenprinz for a while. but keep your fingers crossed!