Staying at the Emirates Palace and wake boarding!!

So I am going to spend this blog trying to catch everyone up on whats been going on in the past couple of days. On Tuesday night we made our way to Abu Dhabi with plans on doing our phone calls by the pool at the Emirates Palace where one of the other teams is doing a project and living at the hotel. While there they were able to barter with the hotel 50 nights to stay there for space in their program. So I thought that I would just take like an hour to get all my work done then I would enjoy the rest of the day at the hotel well an hour turned into like eight and so finally right before eight pm I was able to get everything done and make my way to the pool where the two girls had been hanging out at the pool waiting on us for hours. About five pm though I went down stair and checked into my suite that they had arranged for me to stay in that night.

It was defenetly not like any other hotel check in I have ever experienced. They ask me to sit down in this lobby area and they start coming up to me and pouring Arabic coffee (which is a lot like strong tea) and prune type things that they grow here in Abu Dhabi. Then they escort me to my suite it is huge and very plush. With a huge 61 inch plasma TV on the wall, then they sit me at my desk and finish the rest of the paper work/check in process at my desk there in the suite. Right after that the butler rings the door bell and comes in with fresh squeezed orange juice and tells me all about the different features of the suite and hotel. And gave me his business card telling me that I would have my suites personal butler 24hours a day.

After returning from the pool Dell and Aileen had just gotten done checking in and were in there suite with their butler getting the grand tour. In fact they had been given a dozen roses when they were checked in, I mean this hotel really doesn’t miss anything when it comes to service. When discussing what to do that night one of the girls that is on the team in Abu Dhabi and the host of the night tells us that they had bartered with another hotel called the Oryx and for a huge house account in return for ad space so she could use the money anyway she wanted. She said that she really hadn’t used much of the account besides for a few massages, and said that we could go eat at their restaurant if we wanted.

So we made our way to the hotel for dinner. The restaurant was on top of the hotel probably on like the 20^th floor or so and had city views and a view of the pool terrace that was also on the same top floor. We had called the other team that was there in Abu Dhabi to join us they also brought there new trainee that started about the same time I did. It was funny to think how different our training must be, but for the same company, and just less then an hour away from each other but totally different experiences. Dinner was excellent I got the mixed grill with different rack of lamb, tenderloin etc. We made our way to the hotel and had drinks in the room where the butler came in and served us, it had a completely stocked mini bar that was complimentary.

They had made the room down for the night and had put slipper next to the bed and rose petals everywhere, next to the bed on the bathroom floor etc. and Belgium chocolates in a little gift box with ribbons next to the bed. It’s all about the little things at the Emirates Palace. We got up early the next morning to get to enjoy all of the water sports that were there at the hotel. Such as the lazy river, the 2 water slides, the beach etc. The hotel itself is soo massive that whenever you want to go from one side to the other where the pools are they have golf carts to drive you. When you come out to the pool the pool butlers come out and fix your three towels on the chair for you and sporadically come over and serve you chilled towels, fresh fruit, water etc. We ended up working in the desks there in our rooms and asked for later check out they said the latest we could do is 6pm. As the hotel was only at like 30% occupancy it would be no problem we knew. While we were in the lobby that evening we saw that they were having the launch of all of the new porches and were throwing a party, we wished that we would have had our suits to attend the event. The butler came to the girl’s room about 7pm to see if and when we were checking out; I couldn’t believe that we had stayed in our rooms till 7pm I think that is the latest check out ever.

We ended up hanging out in the other team’s suite afterwards having wine and had the butler bring up on a silver platter a nice selection of cheeses, breads and crackers. The next day was not a luxurious though. We made our way back that night and I ended up working a 13 hour day the next day training and making phone calls and putting the finishing touches on my introduction.

Then yesterday was my first day to go to meetings, the first was with a yacht company selling yachts 100 plus feet. It was interesting because he said that the largest private yacht in the world belonged to his highness Sheikh Mohammed – big surprise. Then the next meeting I was able to do my first introduction, it went well obviously there are things that could have been changed but, nothing that can’t be fixed with practice.

Then about five we made our way to our friend’s boat they had already been out on it and picked us up there at the marina at the Le Meriden where I had spent the day at the beach not too long ago. We ended up wakeboarding right off the shores of the palm there in the ocean. See the “trunk” and “leaves” make a barrier from the waves from the ocean. But what you have to watch out for are the wakes of the massive yachts coming in and out of the harbor. It is crazy the amount of massive houses and apartment towers that are being built on the palm. I ended up wake boarding for the first time with the palm and the skyscraper skyline on the shores of Dubai in the background. It was actually really easy and I got up on my first try. Around sunset we opened some wine and enjoyed it with cheeses, gourmet bread, and berries that we had brought with us. It was a perfect ending to a boating adventure with the sunset, and the skyline beginning to light up as it got dark. Since Amy was in town from Abu Dhabi for the night staying with us we went back home and got ready to go out to watch the soccer game. We went back to the tent place in the hotel Australia was playing Croatia and with Dell being Australian you can imagine who we were routing for. Australia ended up scoring a goal at the very last second.

Today we are in the car making our way back to Abu Dhabi and the Emirates Palace. We saw some wild camels on the side of the highway out in middle of the desert in between the two cities. It was what you imagine the typical dessert to look like.

International Indian Film Awards Weekend!!!

Well so much has gone on in the past three days. I starting writing a blog about 2 days ago and about half way through it my computer froze so it was lost.

Anyways so this weekend the IFFA (International Indian Film Awards) website http://www.iifa.com/website/cntnt/iifa.htm

were going on in Dubai. It is from Bollywood where all of the Indian films are made, and they have it in a different destination every year. So we got invited on Wednesday night to go to the red carpet premier of provoked. Which staring the former Ms. Universe of India. We got to walk down the red carpet with all of the photographers there and then had drinks and hourdervs before the movie started. It was cool because we sat right to the right of Amitabh Bachchan whom is one of the most famous Indian actors as well as the star Ms. Universe. It was interesting seeing how crazy the fans and paparazzi go to get a photo of him.

The film was very good, but there was something very interesting that happened. There was an intermission during the film something that I have never experienced during a movie before. Anyways the next day we were having a normal day of work well….

I went to a networking thing called the Indian Gulf Summit. Which was invitation only and was greeted when I arrived by the conference director who escorted me to my seat on the second row. This was very interesting because like most international conferences there were sections for all the different groups and then there was the VIP section and the VVIP section. This was the first time for me to ever see or sit in a VVIP section very funny.

Afterwards I was able to meet with several top CEOs but my favorite was the CEO of HSBC bank (which is one of the worlds largest but there are very few in the states). During this conversation I was able to set up a meeting for that afternoon before he went out of town. Which enabled to the girls to make a large sale so they loved me. Because of the Indian part of the summit there was a great Indian food buffet for lunch. Then later I got word that we would be going to a fashion show to do some more networking.

Although I had never been to a fashion show I was a little interested to see how Dubai would do one considering how they do everything else so OTT (in Dubai people call everything OTT for over the top) and the event was. It was the IIFA Foundation 1^st annual fashion show. Again they had the red carpet with all the stars. And inside were tons of table set up with all the fancy place settings with bottles of wine and chivas scotch on the table. They had several different Indian personalities and a band, and a Rapper come out and perform and then during dinner they did the fashion show. And I have got to say that this event was a lot of fun. They really did everything up nicely. Oh and it was pretty funny we ended up meeting Sylvester Stalon there as well. Who was sitting like three tables over from us.

Then yesterday was the big night for the awards and my one day off. The girls wanted to go shopping and get some things done because they had the IIFA awards and the Sheikhs wedding to go to all in the same night. And I needed to go get the official IIFA press credentials for Juliet (my sales manager) and I but the other two girls already had there. So it was at the grand Hyatt which is this enormous hotel very OTT. But after talking to the press director for over an hour it seems that we never filled out the proper paper work a month ago and they were only giving out the passes on Wednesday and the story went on and on. Anyways I did not know how we were going to get us all in. But we had a few contacts to call. Somehow Dell knows the organizer of the event who is from India but when she would try to call of course he wasn’t answering his phone. And I tried to call the contact who set up the conference and she said that she had just given away her extra tickets and she had been offered several others from people and that she would try and get some for me.

When I left the grand Hyatt I went to the mall of the Emirates. I have talked about it before and it is supposed to be one of the largest malls in the world when it is finished. But the same company that has the Emirates Palace hotel has a hotel in the mall. Which is where I was let out. It is perfectly located right next to a restaurant row that has huge glass walls that look out into the ski sloops that are there at the mall. I have got to tell you it was one of the most amazing things that I have ever seen and it is just one of many things that make Dubai OTT. The engineering etc that goes into making it possible is just nuts. But you can see the ski lifts taking people up the mountain and people skiing, and my favorite was one restaurant that looked out to the little tubing hill where the kids would tube down. And to think all of this was out in middle of the desert. I ended up having an excellent Indian Lunch (as you can tell it has taken the place of Mexican food for me) that was great and cheap about 5US so. I then decided the best thing to do was go from the snow, to the dessert sand to the beach.

So I got the taxi to take me home to change then off to the Le Meridian hotel. It is great with tons of pools and a nice big beach with cabanas and nice blush recliners to enjoy the beach. It was a typical Dubai ocean view with huge yachts parked right off the coast. It was interesting getting in the ocean water, it was so hot about as hot as bath water. So you really don’t cool off when you get in the ocean you just get wet if you weren’t already from the heat. And it was sitting here thinking about the snow the sand and the beach that made me just laugh at how much there is to this city of Dubai. After sitting on the beach and by the pool I got a call from the girls saying that I needed to hurry up and get to the house and change so we could make our way to the red carpet to try to get in before everyone else did. And it was then that I was so relaxed it felt like if only for about 4 hours I had been on a cruise to some great Caribbean island. IT is definitely an experience that I will have to do again in the near future.

The girls told me that I needed to meet them at the hair salon so we could hurry. It ended up that they took forever and we completely missed the red carpet. You would not believe the traffic getting there it seemed like everyone in Dubai was going there and we were probably the only ones with out passes. So our strategy was the typical smile and wave to try to get us in. When we got to the front doors the security of course stopped us. And we started talking about calling dells friend that was in charge but he didn’t answered. And finally with our press passes we convinced him that we should be able to go in. And he said well where we wanted to go to the front section we were going to have to go through 5 more security checkpoints and that we would be seeing him again soon because we weren’t going to be able to get that far. And one security check point after another we made our way through. All the way to the very front next to the stage. Where the VIPs and celebs were coming in late off the red carpet. We got to chat with a few until some of the bodyguards we new from being at some of the events before told us that there were seats on the other side. So we ended up getting 4^th row seats and we didn’t even have tickets it was amazing.

The show was great. There were all kinds of performances and one guy even road in on a camel smoking a hookah. Something that you don’t see on TV when your watching these events is that they are constantly changing the stage while they are presenting the awards so there is always something going on. You think it would be little distracting to the people hosting. Which was the Ms. Universe that we went to her film two days before. The girls went to the Sheikhs wedding about half way through. It was funny because I had different people asking me why I was there and how I knew what was going on. It was pretty funny.

Afterwards I meet up with the girls at the Grand Hyatt for the VIP after party. When I pulled up in the land cruiser there were swarms of people everywhere with the cameras screaming with tons of security holding them back. I guess they thought that I was someone famous. But anyways we didn’t have invitations to this either. But had the same bodyguards escort us in. It was a really fun party. With open bar with bartenders doing all kinds of tricks setting the drinks on fire etc. A DJ and an amazing Indian Buffet. We were also able to meet a lot of the winners like best actor etc. and get photos with them. We also meet Chan Claude Van Dam (I don’t know how to spell his name) the karate guy. He was very small and invited the girls and I to go up to his suite for another after party but we decided that we didn’t want to go. We finally thought that we ought to hit the road at 3am because we had appointments the next day.

It was defiantly something that I will never forget and made an interesting past couple of days. I have just posted pics on my webshots.com site of all the weekends activities with more to come. I hope everyone is doing well!!!

Chad

new photos

I have posted some of the photos from iffa (award show) if you want to see them talk to you soon

Chad

First Dubai Product Launch Party!!!!!!!

So after finishing up my first round of going over phone calls, we went to a product launch at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. (website: http://www.jumeirahbeachhotel.com/) It was private invitation only, with the full red carpet treatment into the event that was launching a new set of towers here in Dubai. We were running late so we missed the opening presentation, but by the time we got there they had already unveiled the models of the buildings. So went up on stage and were able to get a closer look at the project as well as talk to the Tameer employees about what was different about this imparticular project. During this time we were able to ask them to help us track down the CEO of Tameer Mr. Ali Khudairi whom was sitting at one of the center tables. Luckily we were able to find two seats that positioned ourselves with our chairs directly backing up to him. The food was amazing with every possible thing you could imagine: sea bass, salmon, tenderloin, some curried stuff, and a great seafood soup with huge chunks of fish and shrimp. During dinner we were able to talk with Mr. Khudairi about our project and he told us to get into contact with his secretary to set up a meeting. So the event was a success. The dessert buffet was also very interesting.

One of the things that I found funny that was different at the events like this compared with the states is the fact that they don’t serve alcohol because all of the local religions etc. There for they go all out on the food and they definitely did on this event. After the dinner we got our event gift bags and decided that we wanted to explore the hotel. The hotel is really cool because it is in the shape of a wave and has a huge beach that looks out at the Burj Al Arab the hotel that is a sister property that is in the shape of a sail that I was talking about earlier. Anyways there is this huge long dock that makes a half circle out into the water that does two things: first it blocks the waves creating a marina, and second at the end of the long dock out into the ocean there is a island restaurant about as far out as the sail wave. And on top of the restaurant there is a cool two level open air club with a DJ and cool lounge areas. This was nice because we could sit there and enjoy the light show that the wave hotel makes with tons of blinking lights all over it, and then the Sail hotel does a light show as well on top as well as changing the colors of the side of the hotel. The club also had tons of Hookahs for people to enjoy.

As they say in Dubai it was completely over the top. Again I commented that I couldn’t believe where I was at and the experience is one that I will soon never forget. On the other hand you got to remember that it was an open air club in Dubai in middle of June so once I got oughst to the heat and humidity I completely leveled out.

Today I am working and meeting the girls for lunch at the French Connection again (Juliet really loves it, because her old apartment is right next door). We have more events set for tomorrow evening we are going to go to this supposedly great Mexican restaurant but I have never had any good Mexican food over seas. Then we have another luncheon that some company is throwing on Thursday. Talk to everyone soon.

New Photos posted

Hi everyone, I have had my second day of work. And meet with my sales manager again we are beggining to work on making calls to set up apointments with the CEO's for future appointments. Thats about it.

But I have posted the pics thus far finally of the house that I am living in Dubai, photos from around Dubai as well as my trip to Abu Dhabi and the Emirates Palace. If you forgot the link here it is again:

http://community.webshots.com/user/chadgriggs

all for now

First Day of Work!!!

Although today was Sunday today was my first day of work. See the local people have off on Thursday and Friday, and the expats take off on Friday and Saturday. Which means today it was time to start. After getting ready I took a taxi about 2 miles from the house to meet up with Juilet my sales manager who is from Chicago. We had a productive first meeting going over the company and position and were able to connect and get to know each other. Since the house that she stays in when she is in town is just right next door she walked home and told me to take a taxi.

So I went into Mcdonalds to have lunch and called a taxi, well over an hour later there still was no taxi. So I started my trek back to the house. About ¾ of the way there I was finally able to flag down a taxi. Even though it really isn’t that far away from Starbucks you wouldn’t believe the heat that I was in. Just within seconds I was dripping with sweat.

Once back at the house I spent the rest of the day, studying up on company info. And researching on the movers and shackers of Dubai. As well as watching some of the videos that had been made by my sales manager when she was a rep. they were quit good. All for now!!!

Chow

Exploring Abu Dhabi (1 hr south of Dubai)

Today we got up early to go to Abu Dhabi for the day to explore which is about an hour south of Dubai. Before I went to the grocery store to pick up a few things such as bottled water because you are not supposed to drink that tap. I find this very interesting maybe it is a snuddy thing and they want everyone to only drink bottled water. I don’t know exactly. I also picked up some burger king for me and Star Bucks for Aileen all right next to the house. Doesn’t sound like I am in middle of a desert anymore does it. Well this is not exactly today it was a little windy so the sky looked very hazy from all of the sand in it very similar to dust storms I experienced at ACU.

Anyways on the way I saw several huge billboards with fancy gold polls holding them up of his highness and his father and sons. The people here hold the royal family up very high. Because of their vision the local UAE people’s life is very good. So much so that I have taken some photos of peoples back windshields on there car have this same like huge sticker type things of his highness, son, or father absolutely unbelievable. On the way we also saw this huge Mosque that is still under construction you wouldn’t believe the size of it. It looked like the Taj Mahal. Abu Dhabi is the location of two of our Media Plus teams who had meetings all day. So all we really knew was to go to this hotel called the Emirates Palace. On the way driving along the coast we saw this huge palace, it was amazing since Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE where the Sheikh whom is also the President of the UAE lives we thought it was his. As the girls always do Aileen who was driving just says smile and wave as we pull right in and start talking to the guard at the gate. This usually happens and you get a much better look at the palaces by doing this.

This thing is one of the most amazing things that I have ever seen I would put it up to as nice as any other hotel I have ever seen if not better. Heres the website http://www.emiratespalace.com/en/main.htm The landscaping and the sheer size of it is amazing. The driveway is covered with Bentleys, Mercedes, Porches, and BMWs etc. As you walk in you are again reminded of the amazing size that you saw from the outside of the hotel that is represented in the open spaces and ultra tall ceilings of the lobby, entry ways and every other part of the hotel. The girls decide that they want the grand tour and give the concierge their press pass and ask for someone to give the full tour. The marketing director is excited to have opportunity to do so and sends a member of her team to great us. She is head of the food and beverage division of the hotel marketing department and is a local of Abu Dhabi wearing the traditional coverings of women in the area. In the main building is a huge lobby that shoots up into the sky that is only eight stories tall but looks to be three times that tall by normal standards. With tones of marble, gold plated everything (but classy not over the top trump stile) and huge chandeliers that are all done by swayvosrki. She takes us to the first lounge area which serves only champagne and caviar. Then the next is a lounge area that is for afternoon tea and a deli type area with the most amazing deserts and pastries. It is very interesting looking at the crowd in here tons of locals that all look like sheikhs and CEO from around the world. It is then that she informs us that the GCC (which is the Gulf Cooperation Council of the 7 neighboring oil rich countries) made up of their ministers is having a conference at the hotel.

She then takes us into the first restaurant that is serving lunch buffet style with the most elaborate carving stations, deserts, chesses etc. Then onto the other restaurants the Persian, Italian, Lebanese etc. Each one when we entered had the manager greet us along with their staff standing at the sides of the dinning rooms all greeting us as we enter. Each one had something special that they wanted to tell us about like the huge truffle that was the largest that they had ever seen, to the 100 different olive oil selection, and one of my favorites was the Lebanese coffee that they served us very rich, and one was the tea selections that were in this box all different types but not packages just the leaves that could be brewed one with roses leaves in it. And as we entered the seafood restaurant that had the aquariums along the walls that were full of the fish and shell fish that would be served when ordered we were told that the Ministers of the GCC were in having a late lunch whom we saw.

Then we were onto the conference facilities that had endless options to host parties and cocktail receptions, as well as several different boards rooms with huge plasma screen TVs one with plush chairs that had to be able to seat 30 people around it. Then onto the grand ballroom that had just hosted a wedding ceremony with 1500 guests for the Abu Dhabi’s Sheikhs daughter, as well as a Louise Vuitton fashion show.

Now onto the main lobby that I was talking about earlier that had palace suites on the 6 and 7^th floor. When we arrived on the 7^th floor we were greeted by the butler and security guard who opened the double doors entering into a grand foyer with more huge crystal chandeliers. We first went into the first bedroom with a huge sitting area, bedroom office, and bathroom all very plush but not over the top, then on to the second bedroom hosting the same amenities, then onto the master suite. The master suite was as big as most houses, with the bedroom being so enormous you could get lost in it, along with the bathroom (all of which I have photos that I will post). Next onto a huge living room off the main hallway and then in a separate room a 12 person dinning room with all gold plated plates, and glasses, the dinning room also had a private kitchen for staff to prepare meals. And all of this is one suite that is accessible by individual private elevators accessible by the VIP check in on the top floor. It was probably the most lavish suite/thing that I have ever seen in my life.

The butler told me while touring the suite that the 8^th floor housed the royal suites that were twice this size which we couldn’t go to because of the GCC conference going on. As well that recent guest that I would know would have been President Clinton and Secretary of State Rice.

Our tour guide said that the hotel is owned by the government but was managed and built by the same company that did the Atlantis, Venetian in Vegas and list goes on and on. Security was very tight with guards dressed in suits at every turn. The cool thing about the hotel is that it is as nice and as big as the great hotels in Vegas but the difference is there were very few people there which showed the sense of space that we had. Which is soo much different from the crowds that are at the Vegas hotels. The tour guide went on to say that the hotel is completely wireless even on the beach LOL. After having coffee in the lounge and reviewing our press packets and exchanging business cards the guide told us that she will be emailing us to send us information on upcoming events like the LV fashion show that we will be invited to in the future.

After the hotel we called the teams that were in Abu Dhabi to meet up for a really late lunch. Where we meet them at a local hotel I forget the name. Anyways we ate lunch at the Italian restaurant and had some great pizza. (Although at this point I have come to the understand that food is extremely expensive in the UAE) at least 15 but more like 20 US a meal. The first team that we had dinner with was a pair of girls one from Wisconsin and the other was from Madrid. Very nice and beautiful girls who were going to have to move out of their hotel the next day because their barter was up, but they were in the endings of talks with none other then the Emirates Palace to stay for the next 50 days. As they only had one of the signatures that they needed from the hotels approval and it was less then an hour for the deal to go through things weren’t looking too good.

Shortly after we finished lunch that looked out to the ocean, the other group showed up a man and a women and their new trainee that was from Vancouver. We had the best time sitting there getting to know one another and sharing stories and experiences that they had encountered while working. See in this type of work it was obvious that really the only people that can really understand the lifestyle and work that is done that is going on that it is enjoyable to relate and communicate with them.

After almost closing the place down we decided that it was our time to make it back to Dubai. In retrospect Abu Dhabi is nice, although everything is not a new and the buildings are not as tall as in Dubai. I much prefer Dubai between the two but one must come to Abu Dhabi at least once to experience the Emirates Palace.

Oh yeah, during the afternoon the girl from Spain was on the phone with the Emirates Palace and she was able to push the barter through at the last minute. Thus they will be staying at the Emirates Palace for the next 50 days. None of us could ever believe it and they invited us to come stay the weekend with them coming up. On the way home all the girls could talk about was how amazing it was that the girls were going to be able to stay there and how excited they were for them.

Once we got back to Dubai about 9pm we decided to go to the movies at the Mall of the Emirates http://www.malloftheemirates.com/ . The girls wanted to see a chick flick so I went in and washed MI 3. And even when we got out of the movie the shops were still open and their were tones of people everywhere which was very interesting because it was a work night. All for now!!!

First experiences of Dubai!!!

In the future you can find my photos from my adventures in Dubai and Semester at Sea at

http://community.webshots.com/user/chadgriggs

I am finally here in Dubai!!!!!!!!! The flight was long as expected to Dubai from London just at seven hours. I was on British airways and they really go all out when it comes to service, and the food was as good as can be expected on an airplane. Once I arrived at the airport at 10:30pm local time I made my way to the baggage claim through the very plush airport. It was at this time that my trainers who are on assignment here in Dubai were supposed to be there to pick me up. After waiting for almost 45 minutes and being told that there was still more luggage coming from our flight I finally asked another British Airways person about my luggage. She said that mine was still in London and would not be here till about 7:30am the next morning. I said that, this was almost impossible because when we were boarding the plane that we had to walk down some stairs and out to a bus to drive over to the plane that was parked on the run way. In doing so I saw my two brand new pieces of luggage just thrown out on the street. And when I boarded the plane I told the flight attendant that they needed to make sure that it made it onto the flight. SO they asked me for my ticket stub and about fifteen minutes later he came back to tell me that my bags had in fact made it onto the plane.

Anyways when I finally got things sorted out and gave her the address that I had been given where my teammates were living I made my way outside of the airport. It was very funny because it was totally a flashback from being in the New Delhi, India airport with the gates holding thousands of people back that were holding signs etc. but the only different was these people weren’t yelling in fact they seemed to be very calm. I was wondering at this point seeing as it was almost an hour after my flight landed if the teammates would even be there to pick me up or if I would have to find a hotel to stay at for the night and try to figure things out in the morning.

But soon after I am walking down the walkway with what seems as though thousands of people are to my left and right behind the gates I see two girls that are nicely dressed that have the same look of confusion on their face as I. When I comment to them Media Plus and they were excited that they had found me in all of the madness. I continued to make the walk through the gates and was finally able to meet the two teammates. They were Deli (who has been with the company for about a year and is from Australia) and Aileen (who is from Ireland and has been with the company for about four months) were very excited about my arrival. We made our way to the street and were waiting on the car where they had valet there at the airport terminal. The car that pulled up was very nice one of those huge Toyota land cruisers or something. It was soo unbelievably hot. I mean you could not believe how bad I was sweating and at night, I can only imagine how hot it will be in the daytime to follow. We made our way out of the airport onto the two lane highway that goes straight through the downtown strip of Dubai. It was pretty busy with cars but the traffic was still moving. Which made me appreciate the infrastructure that is in place already. If there is one thing that is already parents about this town is there has been no expense that has been speared the best of everything possible surrounds you all the time in this city.

As we make our way I get to know the girls and they tell me that Marry J Blidge is in concert tonight and that we could get into the after party if we wanted to go. So we decide that we should go to the “Villa” first to change etc. plus Aileen needed to go by the concerning to get tickets for the theatre for tomorrow night. Anyways making our way through the downtown the girls are pointing out all of the different buildings showing where the who’s who of industry offices out of and the names of every cool hotel. Each with their own cool architecture but at the same time the plushness that you would expect after hearing anything at all about Dubai. What was funny at each hotel entrance was the huge lines of valets all dressed up waiting for the next guest to come in.

Soon we start passing by buildings that I recognize such as the mall with the indoor skiing mountain (the structure of the building for this is unbelievable. Attached to the mall is also this really supper fancy hotel that I had read about and when I commented that it was the really nice hotel they said No!!!!!!! Look to your right and it was the Burj Al Arab ( website http://www.burj-al-arab.com/) which is said to be the only 7 star hotel in the world. It was absolutely amazing with the sail shape with neon lights painting the sides of it as it is sailing away into the sea at night. For those of you who have not heard about it, it sits on its own private island out of the coast of Dubai.

OK I am back the above was typed at about 6am when jet lag was catching up with me. I finally was able to get back to sleep about an hour later. Now its about 11:30am or so. Anyways, so at the outskirts of where that hotel was there is some empty land besides right on the coast where they are building some massive houses, and when I say massive just put that into Dubai terms. Anyways shortly after the houses is another area where the sky scrappers start up again but I can’t think of the name of the area that the girls called it. Just inside this area is where the “Springs” neighborhood where our house is. It was funny because when talking to the lady about my lost luggage I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to find the girls and was asking her questions if she knew anything about the “Springs” or where it was or what a Villa is. Anyways she assured me that the “Springs” are very nice and that I definitely won’t be disappointed with the Villa.

So at this point the girls start explaining about the area and how much of a big deal it is when they tell people that they are living in the Springs. Because of the fact that land is so valuable in Dubai and to live in a gated community and to have the amenities is really rare here. So we pull up at the gate and the guard lets us in. It is a nice neighborhood with all of the homes done in the same stile all with great big balconies and in the center is a park type area with tennis/basketball courts, and jogging track, pavilion, play area for kids, and a grill area. All of this area I got to explore just a few minutes ago when it had already reached 97 degrees outside. The house has a covered car area and a nice size backyard with “Dubai Grass” aka sand in it. It’s funny though because the sand in a way looks nice not really that out of place. Behind the gate is the main street that takes us to the neighborhood with the palm trees running down the middle median.

There is a good sized living room, kitchen with stove, micro wave, fledge, etc. washer, dryer, ½ bath, and my small bedroom on the first floor. There is also a TV, phone, fax, printer etc in the living room. I have not made my way upstairs which is where Deli and Aileen’s rooms are which have huge balconies looking out on them.

All in all the house is very nice. We are very lucky to have this much space there girls say, the only down size is by not being in a hotel we are not “in middle of the action” of downtown. Aileen also gave me the scoop last night on all the other things, such as the maid comes once a week to clean everything up and that they often take taxis into town instead of driving for convienence sake. The house is also equipped with wireless internet. But there is a problem with it because when I am surfing, talking on the internet phone, etc it decides to “blink on and off” so sometimes pages won’t appear or I will miss pburps of the conversation. Aileen also said that there is dry cleaning and a grocery store really close by that she would show me where it was later today.

So last night by the time we got back here and I got done brushing my teeth Deli decided that she was tired and didn’t want to go out and Aileen after we were talking for a while and I decided that it was already 12:20am and by the time we got to where we were wanting to go that it would not be worth it because the clubs would be closing shortly. So we stayed in and talked about her time with the company.

Although she has only been with the company for a short time of four months she has had unbelievable experiences thus far which she attributes that to the high learning curve that comes with the job. They are actually not doing the news paper side of the business they are actually doing the TV side for Asia TV. She talked about all kinds of things from her projects in Costa Rica, and in Panama to how she has fallen in love with Dubai. Also how there is such a need here for quality employees and how often times our employees decide to work full time for firms in Dubai and no longer work for our company.

But the most interesting is her talking about meeting Sheik Mohammed the ruler of Dubai and Vice President of the UAE (United Arab Emirates (his web site is http://www.sheikhmohammed.co.ae/ ) whom with his fathers inspiration is credited for making Dubai what it is today. Anyways she talks about being at several different events with him and coming acquainted with him. Very interesting because she was talking about how the job helped her to accomplish this and how something of this magnitude wouldn’t not be possible in say the states or the UK. Anyways at one of the events she happened to have one of her business cards in her hands thinking that it was not appropriate to give something like that to the Sheik but anyways he sees it and asks her for it. Then like a week later her phone rings and she answers it thinking that it was someone else. And the person on the phone was like this is Sheik Mohammed isn’t that crazy.

The girls have now woken up and are headed to the gym that is in one of the neighborhood complexes near by. Then they are planning on taking me around to the place where they were first taken to when they first got here. It is supposed to have a lot of cafes etc. then there is a bar b que that we are going to go to tonight that is at a home right next to the 7 star hotel that I was talking about earlier. After that we are planning on going some place to watch some of the game one of the world cup and experience some of the night life.

Tomorrow they are planning on us going to Abu Dhabi which is where another Media Plus team is located that has a brand new trainee that has also arrived there just today. The girls have never been to Abu Dhabi which is just another emirates like Dubai (an emirate is like a state) and it is like an hour away from Dubai.

Well I guess that’s all for now Iwill be posting the photos of the house that I have taken thus far at http://community.webshots.com/user/chadgriggs which is where I will continue to post photos from my adventures which I have also in the past few months posted photos from Vietnam and Japan from Semester at sea! Thanks for taking the time to catch up with me. All I can say now is email me and let me know whats going on with you and the US it’s my connection to home. Bye!!!

Also the post right before this one is new talking about my travels to Dubai.

The calm before the storm!!!!!!

I am currently in Wickett, Texas visiting my grandfather, aunt and cousin three days before the adventure of my international business career starts. As many of you have heard I had a pretty interesting week or so before I left. Emailing back in forth to the home office trying to get all of the aregments worked out before I left. At the beginning of the week I received my first email from the travel desk saying that they were going to fly me to Belgium two days later, although it ended up that the first air reservation they could get was Sunday. They had told me that they wanted me to come to Belgium to pick up my partner whom was already in Belgium then we would fly from there to Hong Kong for my first project. As the week progressed and I had already confirmed my air arrangements to Belgium the Director of HR emailed me saying that they had changed some plans. This is when I was notified that I would not be going to either Belgium or Hong Kong rather to Dubai which is in the UAE.

It has been a pretty interesting play of emotions thinking that I will be going from one place to another but it has reinstated the fact that Semester at Sea taught us time and time again. "Flexibility" . Anyways I am really looking forward getting to discover all of what Dubai has to offer. It will be a new place. a new culture, and on top of that I will be trying to give 110% as I start my new job.

With that said I fly Wednesday from Dallas to Toronto, Toronto to London, and London to Dubai. Where I will finally end up in Dubai after more then 24 hours of traveling. All for now!!!!