Weekends in Ruwais....

I don't spend many weekends in Ruwais, usually I go to Abu Dhabi or occasionally Dubai. This weekend I'm hanging around because I leave to go to Ireland for Christmas on Tuesday and I thought I'd save some money. That's left me with a lot of spare time today, which is dangerous of course, because it gets me thinking....

During the week, I work from 7.45-3.10 and do lesson plans or mark copies in the evening. By this time, once I have dinner and spend an hour at Claire's or Caroline's I tend not to realise how little there actually is to do in the town. If you're a guy it's probably okay, the Rec has a really nice swimming pool, gym and a pool hall, but us ladies are persona non grata at these places - it really wouldn't be appropriate! There's a Ladies Rec as well, but while we're technically allowed to go there, any of us who have been tend to think of it as an exclusively Muslim Ladies Rec.

So... having woken up at 10 this morning and spent three hours languishing around the apartment and on facebook I decided I had to get out! I spent three hours walking around the town; I saw many mosques, all three supermarkets and countless slides and swingsets - but really, nothing for young people. I wonder how those who don't get out at the weekend cope with it! I'm already considering going to Abu Dhabi tomorrow just for the day for the sake of getting out.

And it makes me wonder about next year, will I stay? The advantages are clear: it's a secure job that I enjoy doing and if I stay for year two I get a large bonus. It gives me the opportunity both to travel and save some money [by the end of this year as well as seeing a bit of the gulf I hope to have seen Jordan, Vietnam/Cambodia and Sri Lanka]. I love Abu Dhabi and enjoy spending my weekends there though I'm not a massive fan of Dubai. And most importantly, I've met some really great people who I couldn't live without in a town like this.

But the disadvantages are there too - do I want to spend another year of my life (another year of my twenties) in a town where there is no life for young people, and few opportunities for social interaction. Should I give up the opportunity to travel and work elsewhere in the Middle East or Asia? The opportunity to hang out with people my own age outside of the circle of teachers who, as it is, all live and work together? Comments welcome!

On the bright side, the boredom of the day has led me to tidy my room, wrap presents, get ready for Ireland and indeed, update the blog!