A Day in the UK
Every morning is the same. First it’s meditative time with my Creator as I sit facing the brighter side of the room, thanking God for His mercies. They say that warm water followed by green tea before breakfast is a good practice. So I drink some. What’s on my menu today, I wonder? Because every day is not the same…
My summer months, back in the UK, are mostly spent outdoor, pottering around in my garden, weeding out, watering, trimming and pruning plants, or picking vegetables or fruit for breakfast. There’s so much to do that I forget the time. I then meet up with my friends and ex-work colleagues who want to catch up with me. I love visiting my friends; old and young. One old friend has a typical farmhouse and grows fruit and vegetables. I return with bags full of vegetables and fruit, which I turn into a delicious Thai squash soup followed by Cambodian pumpkin custard for dessert. My guests love the unusual flavours. Sometimes I bake cakes to give away. There’s joy in this kind of giving and there’s always someone in need. Who’ll say no to cake?
A Day in Abu Dhabi
While driving on the super highway of Abu Dhabi, I think of my fruit trees in the garden and in the field, where I go berry (blueberry, raspberry and blackberry) and apple picking. Here I buy berries in boxes at Spinney’s or Lulu’s and they’re never the same.
Back home the squirrels have a field day with our walnuts and horse chestnuts, but here, I have to pay for them.
How different life is here! As I sit in my pristine apartment, I think of my other home where all year round a local farmer’s herd of sheep graze the land and trim the nettles and thistles that grow over the field.
In the UK it’s about sweating out in the garden, meeting friends socially over tea and scones, and cleaning my home by myself. In my dear adopted city of Abu Dhabi, I busy myself working at the local Thrift Shop, interacting with people from different countries, and selling donated goods which raise money for community charities here and abroad. I also occasionally assist in a women’s shelter making crafts with other volunteers to help a group of doctors and nurses offer health check-ups. You see, I once used to be a nurse.
Once a week, I meet up with our Ladies Fellowship where we gather to help lift up each other’s spirit through praise songs, prayers, reading Psalms, watching videos and Bible study. We are more than friends; we are like sisters. Coming to Abu Dhabi is yet the best thing that ever happened to me, personally, in terms of my spiritual faith in God, which has grown deeper. And I got to know many people from different ethnic backgrounds, different nationalities and different cultures who worship God so passionately.
Occasionally on some days, I attend a social network to catch up with friends I met when I first arrived here, and I also make new friends. Sometimes I go on the fun trips within the UAE, but weekends I always spend with family /husband.
Life here in Abu Dhabi is as exciting as in the UK. I am doubly fortunate to have two lifestyles and two homes in two different countries and continents.
Thank you God!
by “Bateen Betty”
