First Lady takes on Dubai..

With Little Narch in tow :)

In order for me to gain residency there are tons of hoops that need to be jumped through. This one paper has to be filed here and typed there... it's all very confusing and no one gives you a straight process.

I was waiting for The Mayor and I to do it together but realized this is just silly.

I am = a perfectly capable adult.

I know what you're thinking... "You're just hoping a cab to another building to do some document work, what's the big deal?"

Sure it sounds simple. I did it in the US and didn't think twice about it, why should it be any different?

Little Narch and I got ready and made a plan!

What you have to remember is even though everyone speaks english... I can barely understand. Once I'm more familiar with the area and the names of places being used I will understand more.

Case and point: I ask for directions to a place Instead of directions I get "guldin bimind perk"

Whaaaaa?

I handed the phone to the cab driver and they figured out I was headed to Gold & Diamond Park.

I tell the man on the phone that I've never been to Gold & Diamond Park and I need specific instruction "just go in and ask for 17".

I'm expecting a building that I walk in and ask for suite 17....

It's a complex of God only knows how many buildings that slightly resembles Arbor Lakes Shopping Center on steroids - an outdoor shopping center in Minnesota- complete with apartments, offices, stores, restaurants ext.

I ask for 17 and no one seems to know what I am talking about so I tell the cabby to drop me off and I'll walk.. in Dubai... in the heat of the day...and the guy laughs. I'm very funny to cabbies.

What am I supposed to do? Pay him to drive around when he nor I have any clue where we are going? He's obviously taking advantage of this situation.

On my walk Joelle and I breath to keep me from throwing up. We grab waters and juice. We make a pact to stick together and figure this out.

I realize, by observation, that I am at building 4 I decide that is what 17 meant. *sigh*

I prepare myself for a walk and stick to the shaded areas and decide I can't rush. We could be in the heat for 13 of these buildings. We window shop, stop by air conditioned places to cool off. Grab more water, juice and pretzels.

I stop to help the kid with her juice turn around and look up.....

A typing center.

This is what I was looking for but in 17.. I'm at 5.... I decide to just ask and see if they can help and they can.

However, they inform me that I don't have all the paperwork I need. *sigh*

I have to go to the electric company to get a special number then come all the way back. I can't call. The damn paper must be stamped by the electric company.

I hop another cab. This time I have awesome directions and a cabbie who knows where he is going.

We get there. Get a number. Go through the line. Get what we need. We leave.

There are no cabs in sight and my prepaid phone has just informed me I'm out of minutes.

I see a sign for the metro.. It's a walk but I start. No shade. I tell Joelle 'We are problem solvers and we aren't going to crack under pressure or heat.'

'Alright Mom! I'm not an egg'

Can't find the train station.

But I see a smaller mall and I figure it's lunch time, there is AC, and probably cabs.

We reached the mall and I looked back. Its amazing how close something looks when you've arrived at your destination.

There is a small arcade and I indulge Little Narch, she has been such a trooper.

There is a guy trying the claw machine going after a specific horse. He's obviously doing it all wrong and I could do it much better.

I also know from experience that it's harder than it looks.

The guy leaves. Joelle begs. I unwillingly give in.

The claw goes down on the horse... And grabs it but I know it's not good enough. We walk away.

She screams!!!

The claw had the horse by the leg and she flipping won the horse!

Our stoke of good luck! I think I was happier than she was!

We walk to the restaurant beaming sit down and relax.

(We passed the guy who was going after the horse and he stared at me.. I didn't care.)

At this point I have called Firas and thrown in the towel for the day. It's too much to get back to 'guldin bimind perk' plus file the paperwork at the other office I have yet to find. I will just start again tomorrow.

We finish eating and I see out of the corner of my eye the word 'TYPING'.

Whhhhaaaaaaa?

We walk over and see it is a similar office to where we had just been.

I go in and explain my request and the lady says 'ok give me your paperwork.'

I do and we wait. She is typing away.

I'm thinking... 'Great so now all I have to do is go to that other office tomorrow :) this is awesome... Man that horse was a stroke of good luck! Joelle has been so good today! I'm really proud of us!'

'Mam.. Is that a flat?'

'yes'

Then she is done and asks me for a large amount of money.

I gasp internally - it was supposed to be cheap... What did I do?

I pay while asking what my next step is.

"You're finished. Keep this paper with your important documents and only give copies."

"I thought I had to go to the office and file it."

"I'm authorized to file these online and you paid me the fee that is owed to register."

I was sooo happy "I think I love you!"

We laugh.

She replies "Rough day?"

"More like rough three months"

We went outside, found a cab straight away.. He didn't know how to get to my building but he got me in the area and I tell him I'll walk.

Crazy American women who walk makes cabbies laugh. It's very funny to them, and me.

Then we are home and Little Narch begs to take a nap - its well deserved...

I still have more to do before I'm a resident but this was a big step.

I guess sometimes all a Princess needs to be her own knight in shining armor is a horse ;)