Bundle up, it's WINTER

When I landed in Abu Dhabi, in November, it was still in the high 80's (29C) every day, with lows around 78 (25C) at night. In the malls I was startled to see all the winter clothing in the windows. Heavy coats, down vests, fur lined boots???? I thought that it was strange they didn't tailor the merchandising to the local climate. "Who is going to BUY that stuff?" I thought.

Not only do people here BUY that "stuff," they WEAR IT!! I see people all the time in heavy coats, girls in fur lined boots, wrapped up as if it were freezing. I look down at my bare arms and my feet in flip-flops and think "hmmmmm."

Now that January is here, the nights are a little more chilly. I even wrap a pashamina around my shoulders. I still don't understand all the people bundled up in heavy winter garb! Is it marketing? Is it style? Is it an endemic neural deficit? Perhaps seeing the Emirati women fully covered is a subliminal nudge to cover up.

I break out in a sweat when I see girls all zipped up in winter parkas with a fur lined hood framing their face. I want to ask them, "aren't you HOT?"

We'll see how I feel by the time I endure a scorching summer and next winter rolls around. I might end up in Uggs, yet.

Tomorrow I'm off to Oman again. Remembering how cold it was on that bus, with the A/C on full blast, I am taking my jacket, a pashamina, AND warm socks--

Love and kisses from Dubai,

Aleta