Breasts

Breasts are beautiful.

Breasts cushion your fall when you find yourself flat on your face.
Breasts protect your internal organs when you find a football going straight into your chest in front of a huge audience (True story. It didn't even hurt. Ball bounced halfway to field).
Breasts are floating devices. Test it, it's true.
Breasts ooze yummy delicious healthy food. I'm referring to a baby's perspective.
Breasts are a girl's best friend, they are always there for you. They're good listeners, and even hold your tears when you're crying.
Breasts are fun. Don't you enjoy how they bounce to music when you do?
Breasts are sexy.

It would be a crying shame if we lose them.

Introspection

Life after TedxDubai...
The event was extraordinary. Though none of the speakers were briefed on what to say, there was a recurring theme of: Introspection, Positivity, Dreaming, and Persistence. To start with Introspection, I thought I'd look into myself, to understand myself better so I can picture my future in the best, most realistic way.

Well, that was a can of worms!

You see, I, like many modern Arab women, am a big bunch of confetti. Modern Arab women may know who they are, know their values, but when defining them, it's a collection of many contradictions. Let me explain....

Residence...I have lived in 3 continents. One was European, the other in the Middle East, the third in North America. I know, I know, typical Arab. And in true Arab style, our family has moved for career, education, economic and political stability, so we ended up being a mix of all the places we lived in and all the travels we've made. I have very strong patriotism to where I'm from, though I've never lived there. I love the country I'm residing in now, and it's truly, completely, undoubtedly my home. As for the European and North American cities I've lived in, transit. Can't possibly be home, even though I was born in one of them.

Courtesy in DXB

UAE is a great place to live in. Architecture is mind-boggling. The speed of growth is exponential. The diversity is wider than what you would see at a UN meeting. All religions are practiced freely. Shopping is hot. Women are hot. Nightlife is big. Everything is open till late. Now we have the Dubai Metro for a stress free and cheap commute. Weather is pleasant and beaches are open year round. Local and multinational companies are plentiful. Oh, and income is tax free. With all that the UAE has to offer, why do many forget the little detail called "courtesy".

I will zoom into Dubai as this topic is more relevant in this city than in other Emirates.

During Ramadan, strict measures were in place to ensure all non fasting people refrained from eating/drinking/smoking in public. Fasting is a test for Muslims, for Muslims to refrain from eating/drinking/smoking, yet non Muslims are asked to do that too. I would much rather have the non-fasting residents refrain from this out of courtesy rather than force.

Another example, the signs in the malls requesting people to wear decent clothes, and not show public displays of affection. Are those necessary? Isn't it clear that Dubai is an Arabic Muslim city and its values, though liberal, should be respected?

Nip Snip Tuck Tuck

Isn't it common knowledge that no one is perfect? So why is everyone striving to have perfection in EVERYTHING? Now I am always striving to be better just like the next person: better work ethics, better performance, better health, better state of mind, etc..I would even work on elevating my style too, get a great haircut, learn about beauty tips. All sounds nice right?

This begs me to ask the question: with all the available things that can make women look much better, why do attractive women get plastic surgery?

I won't get into my opinion of being for or against plastic surgery, I just want to bring up whether it's necessary to get under full anesthesia in a major surgery that has its real risks when you are already an attractive woman. Maybe not a perfect woman, but no one is.

I know a woman who is a classic text book MILF, Stifler's mom (sans the leopard print and indecent behavior),

Huggy Huggy Kissy Kissy

Ramadan Kareem everyone. Mbarak aalekum il shahar :)
Today I was invited to the company Iftar party at one of the nice Dubai hotels. All was going great: there was a prayer room set up and ready, a HUGE line up of food, employees brought their families so you had kids with face paint fighting with balloon swords, people introducing their spouses to others...all in all, it was a success.

After the get together, I waited for my car at the valet (not a fan, but I couldn't find parking myself). And there it happened, I saw a male x-employee with his wife walking over to say hi, he was happy to see me and planted a kiss on my cheek. Now different Arabic women respond differently to the kiss on the cheeks (the mmwah mmwah from one cheek to the next). Their reaction falls according to the following categories:

1. Some are down with it, and lean right back in
2. Some are ok with a handshake but do not favor a kiss on the cheeks
3. Some are not only "not cool" with it at all, but they don't want to shake hands either.