A lot of people that I thought didn't really care about what I did all of a sudden had a very large interest in my landing in a new land. Especially the (insert scary music) Middle East!
**gasps**
**Wilhelm scream**
So what were my first impressions? Well, funny you should ask because I was just thinking about what I would write if someone actually asked me that and here we are.
What a coincidence.
I came from the UK and had some fun over there with a few guys I know that are stand up comics. They showed me a good time, complimented my ability to drink more than what would kill a mortal man, and also told some jokes. Laughs were had.
Oh, and if you ever go to Edinburgh, visit that castle. It is easy to find, just go up. It was a real highlight of the trip.
Edinburgh Castle
But I digress...or I have already digressed...guess that is up to your discretion...
So wheels down in Dubai for about 2 hours gave me my first taste of the gulf area. First of all, Dubai is so far and away larger and more western than any airport over here. It was huge. Gigantic. Great duty free shopping also, good deal on Bacardi and I even used my American Credit Card for the first overseas transaction. Worked like a charm, (until I saw the international surcharge, of course).
There were what you would expect - a lot of tan, middle eastern men of all ages. Older men having perfect Ron Swanson mustaches, and the younger men in skinny jeans and aviators. There were some in the white robes and head dress, some in shorts and a t-shirt. Women were ranging from completely covered to tank tops and flip flops. There were also a lot of Australians because that is a big hub for them or something. I wasn't listening because all I could think of was an article I read where Australia got drunk and drove through the Panama Canal into the Atlantic because they were tired of being ignored. What? There were white people and black people, tan and Asian. Oh...My...GAWD! And they are all walking around and interacting like they don't hate each other! I wasn't sure what to make of it to start - was I or wasn't I in the Middle East?
After Dubai gave me a reality check that things here may not be exactly as portrayed in your favorite fictional TV show, be it FOX News or MSNBC or CNN, but it may be something much better.
I landed in Manama, the capital city, (and let's be honest, probably the only real city in Bahrain) and I was met outside the gate by a lovely women with a sign. The sign had 4 names, mine, and some very long Indian names. After working through the three long names she came to mine and we agreed that it was me after all. She smiled a hurried "let's get your pale ass through here so I can find these other three people" smile, and off we went. She helped me through customs - which was actually quick and painless. The worst was waiting for the luggage - a lot of traveling families and they all were loaded with luggage. I had never seen so much luggage. 4 and 5 huge suitcases per family plus carry on, three of the luggage trolly's per group, and the luggage came out at such random intervals I thought for sure it was lost to the great luggage cloud in the sky. But after a long wait out my bag came. I would like to point out I didn't own a suitcase before I flew here, so I have no real gauge of how long it should take. I just like to complain. But there was my glorious bag. Beat up, but there it was in its entirety.
Manama International Airport
This is the kind of hot you don't take home to meet mom and dad. The kind of hot you read about in dirty magazines, (No, YOU'RE old!) and then one day there it is. And it is hotter than you ever imagined. You grab it but and feel its heat just pou....what was I saying?
Oh right...dirty magazines...
I don't know if I mentioned it, but it was hot, but we got to the car and we left in a haze of glory. I was tired but alert as my boss-guide pointed out a few things. What burger joint is okay, yes the tattoos are okay, people here drive like maniacs, the usual.
My first impression of the country after the heat donkey punch was this: Tan. Everything is tan. The building are concrete and tan. There are also lots of buildings being built - these will inevitably be tan as well. See that building over there? Is it tan? No? Then keep driving because you're not in Bahrain.
Now that I have ventured out I know this isn't the case, and in fact the biuldings here are can be painted in quite a array of colors, but coming from where I was, tan was worse than wearing white after labor day. Wait...before labor day? Whatever it is, tan houses back home were like that.
Juffair Houses
The roads were nice, (it is still a "new" country so they haven't gotten boogered up yet, and the snow plows don't do near the damage as back home) and the scenery was very pleasant. People walking and biking despite the fact that someone left the country on "BROIL" and went out for the summer. Birds and palm trees not bursting into flames even though I am fairly certain the country touches the Sun in places. Nice cars and beautiful mosques and skyscrapers - and a lot of construction.
The Grand Mosque
My first impression was not as radical as some have had, but it is an impression. My Robin Williams impression may not be the same as yours, either. No big deal. As I started to make the way out of my villa and into the island I discovered a lot more. But in all honestly, apart from the buildings, Bahrain reminded me of parts of Texas...but where everyone had traded in their pickup truck for a Nissan Tilda.
It's a small island, and 20 minutes later I was inside my new house. I must admit my school really did supply their employees with a very choice setup. I got home and got some food in me that didn't come in airline vacu-sealed packaging, and promptly got some sleep.
My Villa
Everything was going to be just fine. As soon as the Sun stopped hugging the island, everything was going to be just fine.
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