I've been dredging up the past for several days. Sometimes I'm amazed how much easier it is for us than our ancestors to save and share 'life stuff'. It's easy to turn paper into PDF's. Photos can be shot digitally and old ones scanned. The Net means it can show up instantly anywhere.Today, I dipped into my archive CD for keystrokes made long ago. I copied junk from old 360K floppies once upon a time. This letter to my father was written about fourteen years ago. The printed version is long gone, but the WordPerfect file opened right up in Word 2003. All data expressed must be viewed in its historical context. For back in 1991, what did I know?
Mr. Dennis Sylvester Hurd
Dubai Men's College Faculty
Post Office Box 15825
Dubai, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Intl. Telephone: Code 971-4
Work 690029 ext. 306
Fax 691369 Home 369354October 25, 1991
Dear Dad,
Greetings from Dubai. It has been several weeks since I've written. I really don't have to much to say. But I do want to "appear" to write more regularly than you!
Things are continuing here as expected. I am waiting for my second salary check. It does seem as though October has been a long month. But as far as money, I have already saved as much working here as I would have in a half year in Bahrain. It is nice not to be making payments for an apartment. And think how silly it was to rent a car in Bahrain for over two years!
My car by the way, is running fine. It hasn't been in for it's second free oil change yet because it has only 3,700 kilometers (2,220 miles) on it. When on a long trip I can see why the new, ugly round Chevy Caprices are so popular here. Even in 5th gear, after a few hours you feel a little like you're riding in a wind-up toy. Still for $8,000 it seems like a solid little performer.
The college had grown to big for our one building. So last week, the English staff moved to another building only a quarter of a mile away. It is part of a large apartment building. But the contractors came and redesigned to two floor end of the building into very nice classrooms. Now because of the additional space, I don't have to have all my classes in the afternoon. Rather, I have eight o'clock classes four days a week. Now I have to get up earlier.
It also takes longer to get to work because there's major construction on the bridge which I cross the harbor. Thank god they are taking out the dangerous roundabouts. I don't know why but that's one thing the British always leave behind . . . very treacherous traffic circles.
Of course this place was influenced by the English before. But now America seems to be exerting a lot of influence. I don't think it is necessarily due to the Gulf War. It's just that many UAE nationals now go to the US for university education. And there's the general truth that we as a nation, are much more respectful of people from other countries.
The weather is changing here to the winter. It must be because of the Gulf, but it is somewhat like Seattle. No, the temperature is not in the 40's or 50's. But each morning starts with fog and mist. Stupid me, left my headlights on at the school the other morning. By 4:30pm the battery was very, very dead. No wonder why I like manual transmissions!
So, everything here is all right. I do miss FPO but if I had it I probably would have purchased a $1,000 laser printer mail order. I borrowed one from the school last weekend. How great!
I hope everything's all right with you. Say hi to Dianne and the kids. When are you guys gonna start talking about getting married?
Love always,
Dennis