I’ve just passed the three month mark. The adjustments to life in the GCC are nothing like I imagined. I’m up on workdays around 5 o’clock. Food and living over here are far cheaper than I imagined they would be. Even cheap-eats over here taste fairly good. So I’ve been eating out a lot.

Expat culture in the GCC is also different from Korea. People seem to associate a lot through clubs. Swimming clubs, rugby clubs, running clubs. Plus it seems like mostly 30-somethings over here, as opposed to the fresh out of college expats that you find in Korea.

I have made an effort since my last post to get out and do stuff. I’ve been to the Camel races with a couple of friends which was quite an experience. For one, they let you mingle with the camels and their caretakers as they prep for the races. We walked out onto the tracks just in front of the starting gate to get a couple pictures from the camel’s view, only to find the races beginning just as we were stepping off-track! We also got to see an entire race when a few people pulled up and offered a ride.  Here’s some shots from the races.

[nggallery id=3]

I also enjoyed a nice camping trip out it the desert with some friends from work. We visited the Inland Sea, went dune bashing – which was awesome! The actual camping itself was done in large furnished tents, ours actually had a fusball table! We spent the night sitting around the campfire passing around some sisha and talking.   Here’s some shots from the trip.

[nggallery id=2]