The first two weeks

Well all, it's been 2 weeks here in Dubai. Two weeks of frustration, culture shock and finally acceptance. The first couple of days here really made me feel like I was trying to place a square peg in a round hole. The square peg of course being me, I had to re-adjust to the new environment I was in.
First, there were the simple tactical changes like gesturing a bit more slowly and less aggressively as well as keeping my bold American cowboy style handshake on the lowest power setting. I think I brought great pain to a few folks here that were not raised around the discipline of the Sasso handshake. The second phase was bit more strategic and it involved reeling in my genuinely optimistic but all too "New York" personality. The folks here will not respond negatively so if you overload them with too much sensory information they will simply default to agree and that does not make for any kind of collaboration. On that frontier, each day is for learning and developing trust and going from there.
The culture here is very interesting as it is a culture of modern extremes. Consisting of franchises, furnished apartments, modern architecture and ever larger malls; Dubai is a melting pot of social and cultural diversity that is relegated to traditional dress, prayer and occasionally food. I have been making sure to experience the many wonderful foods here. Indian and Lebanese being two of my favorites I regularly walk to restaurant areas in search of a new experience. Mostly I enjoy the outdoor cafe style restaurants, eating as the tourists walk by. I usually top off my meal with a relaxing smoke on the sheesha. Known as a hookah pipe to most Americans, the sheesha is a wonderful relaxing and extremely aromatic experience. I will be bring one home in hopes of enjoying a few beers and a smoke with my friends.
it is winter time here in Dubai and the weather is best described as the best summer days and nights possible in NY. Cool and comfortable with no humidity, I am usually dressed in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt when I am out and about.
The people here are exceptionally polite and my new co-workers are equally fantastic. It has been difficult being separated from my family but the welcome of these folks has made it an easier burden to bear.