Gosh, it’s been 18 years since I wrote regular articles about my new, vibrant experiences of living and teaching in Dubai.
What was meant to be a two-year interlude became an exciting 12 years of professional and personal opportunities in a safe, creative country.
Reflecting on the raging war in the Middle East, I’ve been turned inside-out with concern for both my friends and colleagues living there still, and for the plight of our much-beloved UAE.
I’ve read so much doom and gloom; that the world’s busiest airport is shut down, their tourist industry dead, businesses leaving in droves.
I’m assured this is exaggeration and friends are exceptionally proud of how the country is keeping them safe.
You may have heard how, from the first instance, all stranded travellers had their hotel stays extended with both food and accommodation paid for by the government.
Also, it became an offence to publish any negative war action on social media.
Through regular texts with friends, some first comments were:
- I never would have believed my children would look out the window and say, “There goes another missile!”
- When the missile alerts go off on the phone, we all go to safety away from any windows. While it’s still scary, it’s become the new normal.
- The UAE is doing a brilliant job keeping us safe.
Like the Covid experience, schools are closed and it’s back to online teaching/ learning, not a favourite choice by teachers or students.
Blasts and alerts during facetime don’t help!
One friend, particularly traumatized after the Qatar bombing, took her children back to Ireland to do online schooling from there, which was awkward with the time zone issues.
They’re returning now in the hope the ceasefire will persist.
But most are becoming more confident to go about their day, riding bikes and playing golf, and shopping. “It’s all just less hectic with mainly only residents about.”
Following the ceasefire announcement, the UAE Ministry of Defence sent this to all residents:
“Since the onset of the blatant Iranian attacks, UAE air defences have engaged a total of 537 ballistic missiles, 26 cruise missiles and 2,256 UAV’s”(drones).
This has been a new normal which, thankfully, I am not living here in Trafalgar.
