Catching you up on whats happened to me, I accepted a job in Springfield, Missouri working for a family owned food service company that has been in business since 1865. The company originally took food orders and shipped the groceries through the plains to small railroad towns where the customer would meet the train and haul the goods back to the restaurant on a horse pulled wagon. Quite a history the company has, and the great, great grandson is the current owner. The owners are a wonderful family that the employees really like. I hope its the last company that I work for.
http://www.sgclink.com/
My manager (Todd) is one of my favorite all time bosses. This is the third time that we have worked together and the second time that I report directly to him. I accepted the position without hesitation because one of the things that I have learned in life is that you work for people more than you work for companies. Todd is a great person, and those of you that know him are either happy for me, or jealous, really hard to imagine working for a better man (he is not a blog reader or follower. I will probably not tell any of my current colleagues about the blog so I can share funnies freely.
I have stayed in touch with several of my UAE friends in the
two months that I have been gone from the Middle East. Joseph has grown rich
pawning off the furniture and dishes that I had to leave behind (just joking
Joe). I only brought 4 suitcases and my laptop back to America, so I had to
leave behind so many little used items or items (Like stainless steel side by
side refrigerator) that just wouldn’t quite fit in the overhead bin. I tried my
best to collect all of my deposits, and yet still have not successfully had my
car lease deposit returned. I received a correspondence from Shift Leasing that
they would wire my refund the first week of May. I apparently forgot to ask the
first week of May of which year. So far, no money…but I remain hopeful. As you also
may remember the Arab that hit my car in Dubai, successfully ran out the clock
and did not pay me a dime. Oh well, I guess I will just forget that and move on
(not likely…lol). I had lent a couple of people cash before I left; it is
amazing how your friendship and debt status changes when you leave the country.
I guess I am just an easy touch, but that feeling of being taken advantage of
is really quite painful. The combination of feeling stupid for overly trusting
combined with the anger you feel from someone thinking that they need not make
sacrifices to repay someone who was kind enough to share their savings to help
them in a pinch….Oh well, I guess being a sucker isn’t all bad, unfortunately
it also causes me to think harder each time someone in my life asks for help.
My cell phone rang unexpectedly last week; it was my old
friend Muzzy calling from Chicago’s NRA (National Restaurant association) trade
show. It was good to spend a few minutes chatting with him, and I am very
pleased that Muzzy finally has achieved his dream of visiting America. He was
traveling from Chicago to Omaha to tour his first American Beef slaughtering
facility. It should have been a very educational experience. I teased him about
being a Muslim Middle Easterner visiting our country, but he gave me a good
natured giggle. I don’t think I can appreciate the feelings that “good Muslims”
must feel when they bear the burden of Westerners that associate them with the
Jihadists that the free world battles every day.
I have been able to help one of my server friends get a new
job in Dubai, it was very rewarding for me to be able to use my relationships
to give someone a new opportunity. Three recommendations resulted in 3
interviews and two job offers – there are good people everywhere, and if you
just treat people the right way, they generally will reciprocate (at this
moment please ignore my earlier comments about unpaid loan money..lol).
Kumail has returned from India to Dubai and has accepted a
new job. I will try and get more details from him in the coming weeks. Juan and
Hayley are still working hard for Transmed, hopefully stocking away cash for a
brighter future when they return to the West. My other favorite Arab American
Reem, is hanging in quite nicely, but
she probably will marry some LCS (Lebanese man) and live that life…lol…just
teasing Reem. Anu (the young QA manager at Barakat) is still waiting to have
her wedding date to be set by her family in India. Mahesh is nearing the
opening phase for RK’s new facility for Barakat International in Dubai
Industrial City. I understand they anticipate opening by June 15th,
so I am sure the pressure is on for my friends.
Suresh and Jitesh are still working hard for Barakat, 6 days a week, and
extremely limited holidays, are one of the things I failed to change. Vineet is
still selling fruits and vegetables for Barakat, I am very proud of well he has
done.
As I stated earlier, it’s the people that I miss. Rodz and I
have actually figured out how to Skype together…Before you ask, I don’t know
what the future holds. Absence makes the heart grow fonder…
I have only chatted with Kelly a couple of times, it’s
funny, I don’t feel the urgency to talk with her, I feel very good about our
friendship, and I truly believe that we are there for each other. She is
traveling around the Middle East working for Ace Hardware…Kelly makes a good
“tool time girl”…
 |
| Ok stand on your head, then you will see lol... |
I have settled into my Duplex in Springfield, last night I
snapped a couple of pictures, because I know how a lot of you need pictures to
accompany my drivel. I am worried about my decorating skills, (Todd’s wife
Deborah has helped me) but after visiting and Art and rug sale in a big tent
and “Hobby Lobby” several times (a store for people that want to decorate their
homes….sigh) I am a couple plants and lamps away from being finished. My
brother Mike and a friend of his stopped by on their way out west chasing
fortunes (amongst other things). I think my mother had sent him for a full
report…lol. Actually, Mom and dad (Health permitting) are planning on visiting
in August.
I still have the daily challenges in my life (last week I
had lathered my face with shaving Gel, only to choke and then snort it up my
nose, and then really choke-death seemed imminent) …I know only me. There has
been a lot of traumatic weather (floods and Tornados) since I arrived in
Springfield. I live 45 minutes away from Joplin, and Oklahoma is less than an
hour. Today (the 31st) they are expecting 5 inches of rain and an
afternoon tornado outbreak. I know in Dubai the summer of 100 degree temps has
begun, but I definitely prefer Heat to tornados. I hope to chronicle this stuff
and hopefully make it interesting. Let’s see where this blog goes….It is great
to be home, but not a day goes by that I don’t reflect on my friends and the
people of the UAE.
God Bless and God willing I will see you back here around
the 15th of June. Please drop me a note and let me know how you are
doing.
