Sunday, September 21, 2008

Ramadan

It's Ramadan where I'm living now. I'm not finding it difficult to cope with (especially as I'm not a muslim and I'm not fasting!). I just need to make sure I don't eat/drink in public. However, the way I'm feeling this week is a kind of social/emotional Ramadan. It's hard for me to sum it up though. I moved here willingly, I actually like it here but I think that everything has finally caught up with me, now, after a month. What have I done?!

TOH is back in UK for a couple of weeks to sort out visa issues and I'm here, in a huge apartment. Alone. I'm finding it difficult. I'm used to having lots of friends around and going out often, socialising, meeting up with the people I like to be with. Now, I go to work, I come home, I eat, read then go to bed, without seeing anyone. I often nip out to the shops for milk or a phone card, just so I can speak to someone in between leaving work and returning to it the next day. The TV here is totally hopeless. I watched the whole of series one of "Heroes" in a few evenings on DVD. I loved it and now I'm whistfully imagining what super power I'd like to have and how I'd use it.

I'm an outgoing, sociable person but I'm finding it tough. The only places to meet others here are either filled with older, sturdier (dare I even say stodgier...?) people or brutish, knuckle dragging sports fans with sweat patches and unnaturally red faces. Neither my kind of scene at all. What to do?

I know that it's just a phase, that I'll adjust and eventually feel settled, but right now I just don't know where, or even if, I fit in.

10 comments:

houstonmacbro said...

What happens if you eat in public? Is it frowned upon?

Fall In Line.... said...

"....or brutish, knuckle dragging sports fans with sweat patches and unnaturally red faces..."

So true! You really do get to see a lot of that breed around here. Let's not even get me started on that!

Monty said...

Oh, big hugs for you DG! And I don't suppose there's much of a gay scene there either! LOL Just get that arse of yours on a plane down under and we'll cheer you up! :-)

Guy In London said...

Hang in there buddy.

GIL

x

Jayne said...

I'll try & make a few discreet enquiries for you to see if there is or are any gay bars here. There are heaps in Dubai, but that's a bit of a schlepp for you.

I shall be glad when Ramadan is over. *sigh*

Jayne said...

P.S. houstonmacho - if you're caught eating/drinking/smoking in public you'll be arrested & fined a coupla hundred dollars :-)

Grand Taste Master said...

Come back to London - at least there Lavender gents, restaurants open all hours and sweaty sports fans..

Jayne said...

I asked & the only place suggested was Rock Bottom. Apparently mainly frequented by Filipino gays.

Matt said...

What a huge change this must be ... I admit, I'm jealous. Talk about outside of your (well, MY) comfort zone.

I hope you're having good days, too. The company I work for has an office in Dubai - can I come and visit?

Darth Gateau said...

yes! Come visit.

Also... thanks everyone for rallying 'round. I've felt better this week and I'll throw a new post up in a day or two.