Monday, November 17, 2008

Where did all the manners go?

My son pestered me to go out to the mall to get a watch that he wanted (using his birthday money) on Saturday.  So we all packed up and headed there after a late breakfast hoping to beat the crowd somewhat.  I hate going to the mall on a weekend because of the crowd; parking is terrible and the crowds are unbearable!  To top things off, people here are just plain rude!
I've noticed this sometime ago but never vented it: people here in Dubai don't know how to say "please" or "thank you".  Whatever happened to courtesy?  It's not just a certain nationality or culture that fails to bring their manners, it's all sorts of people!  I bring up  my kids to be courteous to everyone, especially their elders, but these rude people are certainly not helping.  Worse thing is it makes me be rude to them.   How is that being an example to my own children?
The lady at the unnamed supermarket counter never smiled and never did say please.  Even when she asked me for the exact change she never extended the courtesy of someone in customer service.  So I snarled at her and said, "No!"  At the fast food counter it was no different.  It was appalling, so much so that in my loudest voice I told my kids how rude people are: not knowing how to say "please" or "thank you".
Is it just Dubai or is it happening all over the world?  Or is it just me becoming a grumpy old fart?

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Beemer Spyshots in Dubai

Saw this car on a flatbed pulling into the Beemer dealership in Dubai a few weeks ago.  According to a fellow petrol-head, looking at the two pipes at the back it's probably the new V8 M3 doing a hot test run.