The older I get, the more I realise my close circle of friends has grown smaller. During my university years, I was more extroverted and enjoyed being around many people. However, as I navigate my thirties, I find myself preferring smaller and quieter gatherings.
One of the biggest changes I've made in the past decade has been moving to the UAE from Boston in 2014. When I decided to move, I didn't know anyone in the country, which felt scary but also exciting. It was truly a fresh start in every sense.
I never realised how much I was missing out until I moved to the UAE, a country that is home to more than 200 nationalities. This isn't to say I wasn't accustomed to different cultures, as a Chinese-American navigating between the two. However, moving to a place with so many people from different walks of life coming together has been an eye-opener.
Living in Abu Dhabi has given me countless opportunities to immerse myself in new experiences. From learning about various cuisines, such as Ethiopian or South African, to observing Ramadan and having iftar with friends, I am grateful for it all. Each experience has broadened my understanding and appreciation of different cultures, something I hadn't deeply explored while in the US.
However, it's my relationship with my friend Juman, who is Palestinian, that has really changed my perspective. As the world observes International Friendship Day on July 30, I want to reflect on how our friendship has changed me. She was one of the first friends I made in Abu Dhabi and someone I bonded with instantly. Our personalities mesh well, and we share a lot of the same core beliefs, which has only strengthened our friendship in the past 10 years.
Juman is someone I have grown to consider one of my closest friends. We’ve celebrated milestones such as birthdays and weddings together, and we know each other’s families (which says a lot considering mine lives in the US). She is incredibly compassionate, always going out of her way to support those around her, and her genuine kindness shines through in everything she does.
As cliched as it sounds, she’s always been there for me when I needed her, so it only makes sense that when the Israel-Gaza war broke out, I felt a strong need to be there for her.
I was surprised – and somewhat disappointed – by the silence from my friends in the US when the war began. I decided to learn more about the Palestinian cause, hoping I would be able to share what I discovered with others. In the past nine months, I’ve tried to use my voice on social media to pass on information about Palestine or simply wear clothing or accessories to show my support.
After all, I have experienced first-hand how, in the US, things are often seen in black and white, and how not every side is always presented fairly.
One example that comes to mind is the Iraq War in 2003, which began when I had just started high school. More than two decades later, I can reflect on why I didn’t care more and, more upsetting to me, why I wasn't given the information to understand the full impact of what was happening at the time.
Back then, the war seemed so distant, and I had no ties to anyone or anything in the region. I went on with my life, even though so many others were affected in devastating ways. In retrospect, this experience has made me realise the importance of not only staying informed but also cultivating empathy during global crises, even if we believe we have no personal stake in them.
I refuse to make the same mistake I did back then with what is happening now. Although I feel more personally connected to the Gaza war because of my friendship with Juman and several other Palestinians I've met while living in the UAE, I also believe it is the right thing to do. After all, I know if the roles were reversed, she would do the same for me.
I don’t think people have to know a Palestinian to stand up for what they believe in, but it certainly doesn't hurt to get to know one. To learn about their generosity, their kindness, their optimism and, perhaps most importantly, their resilience is a wonderful thing.
Recycle Reuse Repurpose
New central waste facility on site at expo Dubai South area to handle estimated 173 tonne of waste generated daily by millions of visitors
Recyclables such as plastic, paper, glass will be collected from bins on the expo site and taken to the new expo Central Waste Facility on site
Organic waste will be processed at the new onsite Central Waste Facility, treated and converted into compost to be re-used to green the expo area
Of 173 tonnes of waste daily, an estimated 39 per cent will be recyclables, 48 per cent organic waste and 13 per cent general waste.
About 147 tonnes will be recycled and converted to new products at another existing facility in Ras Al Khor
Recycling at Ras Al Khor unit:
Plastic items to be converted to plastic bags and recycled
Paper pulp moulded products such as cup carriers, egg trays, seed pots, and food packaging trays
Glass waste into bowls, lights, candle holders, serving trays and coasters
Aim is for 85 per cent of waste from the site to be diverted from landfill
What it means to be a conservationist
Who is Enric Sala?
Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.
What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.
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Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
